SEIZE THE NIGHT

Thanks to less light and air pollution, the country’s night skies are darker than usual. So stay up, head out and go starry-eyed

Spread across southern England,

offers night-sky visibility that’s so good it was the first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in the UK to be designated an International Dark Sky Reserve, in October 2019. Cley

Hill, near Warminster, is one the best spots for stellar views, and you might see something else, too — it’s said to be a prime spot for UFO sightings. chasingstars.org.uk

Wales’s rural and rugged

Dark Sky Park has the darkest skies in England. On a clear night at Cawfield Quarry, beside Hadrian’s Wall, you can see our neighbouring galaxy, Andromeda, 2.5 million light-years away. northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk

Truly escaping light pollution in the South East can be hard, but the SOUTH DOWNS offer some of the best places to stargaze in this corner of England. Visit Butser Hill in Queen Elizabeth Country Park, one of Hampshire’s highest points, or head to Birling Gap near Eastbourne, where the sky often shimmers with stars over the English Channel. southdowns.gov.uk

A sparse population in Scotland’s GALLOWAY FOREST means this woodland is a haven for astronomers. It became the UK’s first Dark Sky Park in 2009 and steps have been taken to ensure light pollution remains at a minimum. On a clear night along the A712, which winds through heathland, you can admire the glittering Milky Way. forestryandland.gov.scot CONNOR MCGOVERN