Brecon Beacons best in world as stargazers’ stareway to heaven
A WELSH mountain range has been named the best spot in the world for stargazing.
Travel publisher Rough Guides – known for its “tell it like it is” attitude – named the Brecon Beacons top in its list of “the world’s top stargazing spots”.
The guide, published online on Monday, is a top 10 list of dark-sky destinations around the world for stargazing.
Wales beat off competition from New Zealand to Hawaii, and Chile to Namibia to claim the top spot.
With the Brecon Beacons being named top, the guide said: “Wales’ first Dark Sky Reserve has effectively minimised light pollution with the involvement of local communities, creating conditions clear enough to view meteor showers, nebulas and, more rarely, the Northern Lights.
“City-dwellers from nearby Cardiff and Bristol can bring their binoculars to Hay Bluff or to the atmospheric ruins of medieval Llanthony Priory to experience truly starry nights.”
The mountain range is well-known for its popularity with those who enjoy taking in the night sky.
Brecon Beacons National Park’s website says the park has “some of the highest-quality dark skies in the whole of the UK, making it the perfect destination for stargazers”.
It said: “We think that this is something worth shouting about, so we teamed up with the Brecon Beacons Park Society to apply to the International Dark Sky Association to make our entire National Park an International Dark Sky Reserve.”
To see the full list of stargazing spots, visit www.roughguides.com