For a full round-up of all the events taking place across the Lake District National Park, go to the Visit Cumbria page.

Why are dark skies so important?

In our increasingly urbanised world, truly dark skies are becoming a rare sight. Light pollution from towns and cities washes out the fainter stars, obscuring our view of the Milky Way and countless other celestial wonders. This isn't just a loss for stargazers; it impacts wildlife, disrupts natural rhythms, and even affects human health. 

Where to stargaze

Our Matson Ground cottages offer some excellent stargazing opportunities thanks to the dark skies overhead. Whether you're staying in one of our Windermere cottages, or one of our Ullswater cottages, if the skies are clear the sight is simply spellbinding.

If you decide to venture out, Ennerdale, Wasdale and the Borrowdale valley are some of the best places in the Lake District to really soak up the night skies. But closer to home, Grizedale Forest is pretty easy to get to and has several car parks. 

Or why not head up to the Langdale Valley, where the steep-sided valley shelters the Langdales from any town lights, meaning minimal light pollution. The ideal place to really connect with the night sky.

Stargazing tips

1. Adjust your eyes. It can take up to 20 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark, so factor in enough time ahead of your stargazing.
2. Use red light to maintain your night vision - for instance, paint the end of your torch with red nail varnish, or cover with a red sock or simply use a back light from your bike - anything to avoid bright lights.
3. Wrap up - at this time of year it can get cold, so make sure you've got some warm and cosy clothing with you. And take something you can put on the ground so that you can stretch out.
4. Binoculars / telescope - both will help you see far more than you can with just the naked eye. Even a pair of binoculars will increase what you see by a factor of up to 50.
5. Stargazing apps - there are plenty of apps for your phone which will give you the names of the stars and constellations overhead.
6. Check the moon calendar - the last thing you want is to be stargazing when there's a wonderful full moon.

The night-time sky is a wonder to behold and is critical for our sense of wellbeing. So, wherever you find yourself, take a moment to look upwards. 

Image courtesy of Cumbria Tourism