Stars in our eyes
From Sutton Bank to Yorke’s Folly, Sue Wilkinson hunts out the best places to go stargazing in Yorkshire
In most towns and cities, there is so much light pollution that we do not realise the spectacle of stars we are missing out on when day turns to night. There are still places around the UK that are perfect for stargazing. Both the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors were named International Dark Sky Reserves in 2020 due to their lack of light pollution.
The Northern Lights can be spotted towards the Yorkshire Coast during spring.
So to help you make the most of Yorkshire’s dark skies, travel experts Gorgeous Cottages have compiled ten 10 places to spot stars and some of the best cottages to stay at.
Yorkshire’s top stargazing spots include:
Boulby Cliffs, Cleveland
Way, North Yorkshire
The North York Moors heritage coastline is a great place to try and see the northern lights, and one of the best coastal spots for stargazing is at Boulby Cliffs which is the highest cliff on the east coast of England with little to no light pollution.
Other top coastal locations in the North York Moors National Park include Kettleness and Ravenscar.
Blakey Ridge, Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire With an elevation of 1,325 feet, Blakey Ridge is the highest point in the North York Moors National Park with a pub called The Lion where you can call for refreshments after stargazing.
The remote location is a popular choice for walkers and stargazers because of the views over Rosedale and Farndale in the daytime and
dramatically dark skies in the evening,
Sutton Bank
The elevated location of Sutton Bank looks out over the Vale of York and Gormire Lake, which was described by Yorkshire vet James Herriot as ‘the finest view in England’.
Nestled under the big skies, at Sutton Bank National Park centre you’ll find cycling trails, adventure play areas and a special Star Hub with powerful telescopes, outdoor seating areas and regular events led by astronomers.
Dalby Forest
The middle of Dalby Forest is officially the darkest place in the North York Moors National Park and there are a couple of dedicated observatories here and a special planetarium where you can enjoy the night sky at its best.
Not only is Dalby Forest a
Dark Sky Discovery site, but it also has Milky Way Status and there’s a brilliant on-site visitor centre where you can pick up lots of useful information.
Dalby Forest is also jampacked with family-friendly activities making it a great destination for day or evening.
Tan Hill Inn
Nestled in a remote part of Swaledale, the Tan Hill Inn is the highest pub in Britain at 528 metres above sea level with dramatically dark skies that are just right for stargazing.
The country inn dates back to the 17th century and you can combine spotting stars with enjoying pub grub. Hawes National Park Centre .
The Dark Sky Discovery site is part of the Dales Countryside Museum and has a large car park where you can set up your telescope, and the
Firebox Cafe close by.
Yorke’s Folly, Nidderdale
The hillside location of this Georgian folly looks out over the rolling hills of Nidderdale and, when night falls, you can look up to the sky and see a kaleidoscope of twinkling stars above you.
Malham National Park
Centre
The car park of this characterful stone building is surrounded by some of the most dramatic scenery in the Yorkshire Dales National Park Centre including Malham Cove and Janet’s Foss.
Lime Tree Observatory,
Nidderdale
There are regular public events at this stargazing dome which is also available for private hire and located within the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the village of Grewelthorpe.
Rosse Observatory, Pontefract
This Pontefract observatory was opened by Sir Patrick Moore in the 1970s and is now the home of the West Yorkshire Astronomical Society. The best Yorkshire cottages for spotting stars include:
Vale Cottage at Wellspring Farm - a four-bedroom holiday home that comes with a special stargazing pod to make the most of dark skies in the North York Moors
Three Roods – detached 17th-century stone cottage near Dent has panoramic views of the dramatic landscape at the western edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Springhill Farm Cottage – soak under the dark skies of Wensleydale at the cottage with a hot tub in countryside near Jervaulx Abbey.