Where to see the stars

BEACON HILL FARM in rural #Northumberland has its own night sky observatory for the exclusive use of self-catering guests. 

The observatory has a powerful Celestron CPC 1100 telescope, giving detailed views of stars and planets such as Jupiter and Saturn, and two additional telescopes.

A large swathe of Northumberland has been designated as one of the best places in Europe to see the stars due to its unpolluted night skies. 

Self-catering rates range from £345 per cottage per week.

www.beaconhill.co.uk

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Stargaze on Sark

THE Dark Sky Island of #Sark is to open its first #observatory on October 10.  
The small Channel Island was designated as the world's first Dark Sky Island in 2011 by the International Dark-Sky Association and is now only one of two in the world. The award was in recognition of the exceptional blackness of the night sky which makes for spectacular stargazing on the island. The opening of the observatory aims to facilitate astro-tourism on Sark, and make it tangible for first timers as well as experienced stargazers.   

Sark's dark skies can be attributed to its isolated location in the English Channel, its complete lack of public street lighting (and very few outdoor lights on buildings), and low pollution levels. Motorized vehicles, with the exception of a few tractors, are banned on the island.

The observatory will be located in the middle of the island, which is the darkest area, and will be a two-room structure with a sliding roof. One room will house the telescope and the other will be a 'warm room' with a screen linked to the telescope.

The observatory will be opened on October 10 by Dr Marek Kukula, Public Astronomer at Greenwich Royal Observatory.

The opening of the observatory will tie in with a Sark Trek weekend (October 9-11) designed to make the most of the island's night skies. Hosted by two astronomers, it will involve 14 hours of learning and stargazing activities.

www.sastros.sark.gg 
www.sark.co.uk

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Where to see the stars

FUERTEVENTURA'S night sky has been designated the third Starlight Reserve in the #CanaryIslands, recognized as one of the best places to view stars without the interference of light pollution.

The Starlight Reserve concept was created in 2007, in co-operation with the World Heritage Centre through its #Astronomy and World Heritage initiative. The designation underlines a commitment to preserve the quality of the night sky and its associate values, whether they are cultural, scientific, astronomical, natural, or landscape-related.

Holidaymakers on #Fuerteventura can also enjoy more than 90 miles of sandy beaches and turquoise waters, vast natural landscapes, and year-round tropical temperatures.

http://visitfuerteventura.es/en

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See the stars in Wales

 WHERE'S the best place to go in the UK to stargaze? The answer could be Mid #Wales, where the dark skies and reduced light pollution are attracting global recognition. 

The Welsh region now has two areas that have achieved #InternationalDarkSky status.

The Elan Valley Estate, which stretches for 70 square miles from Rhayader westwards towards Aberystwyth, has becoming the world's first privately-owned yet publicly-accessed International Dark Sky Park.

The silver-tier status has been given by the International Dark Sky Association (IDA), based in Arizona. It means that the 45,000-acre estate is protected against light pollution, for the benefit of those who live and work there, as well as for visitors and wildlife found there.

The estate joins the Brecon Beacons National Park which is also been classified as an International Dark Sky Reserve. 

An application to the IDA is now being made for the Snowdonia National Park.

www.visitmidwales.co.uk



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Study the stars under canvas

THE NATIONAL SPACE CENTRE has worked with glamourous camping specialist The Dandelion Hideaway to offer a Space Race experience. Camp out under the stars for an evening of astronomy, workshops, and craft sessions.

Book into one of the canvas cottages at The Dandelion Hideaway on the southern fringe of the National Forest for the weekend of June 5-6 and launch off into the Space Race Challenge. With expert help and guidance from National Space Centre staff, guests will be able to build and launch rockets, design a team mission, handle real space artefacts, and try space food. They will also be given a tour of the night sky, spotting satellites and looking at the planets Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn. 

The Dandelion Hideaway is a working farm, with luxury canvas cottages in the Leicestershire countryside and has just won the Bronze award in the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence for Self catering Holiday Provider of the Year - Well Done!

www.thedandelionhideaway.co.uk
www.spacecentre.co.uk
www.nationalforest.org

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Picture Credit: National Space Centre, Leicester geograph.org.uk - by Kate Jewell. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons, Night Sky Stars Trees by Michael J. Bennett - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

£7.8 million grant for Northumberland heritage project

A UNIQUE opportunity to create a multi-million pound Northumberland tourist destination has been awarded a grant of £7.8 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Located at the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site in Northumberland National Park, the Sill will become the country’s first national landscape discovery centre, directing visitors to the places that might seem out of reach or difficult to find and engaging people from all walks of life in the natural and cultural heritage of the sweeping Northumberland landscape.

The all-weather, year-round centre – with a programme of interpretation, education, research, and events – will aim to attract more than 100,000 visitors a year.

Spearheaded by the Northumberland National Park Authority and YHA (England and Wales), the lead partners are celebrating the latest stage of this flagship project. They need to raise a further £2.2 million.

The Northumberland National Park has some of England’s darkest skies – having recently been awarded International Dark Sky Park status – plus clean rivers, ancient landscapes, rich culture and heritage, and stand-out scenery.

Ivor Crowther, head of HLF North East, said: ‘With the famous Hadrian’s Wall and much more besides on the doorstep, this new state-of-the-art discovery centre will become the perfect base from which to explore the national park’s unquestionable beauty. The Heritage Lottery Fund’s investment is also supporting a year-round programme of exhibitions and activities that will ensure that visitors are tempted back to Northumberland again and again, providing a much-needed boost to the local economy.’

Caroline White, chief executive of YHA added: ‘The announcement of funding from HLF is a huge step forward for the Sill. The HLF funding, together with that from other providers, has closed the funding gap significantly. It is immensely exciting that we are now within touching distance of transforming the current YHA site at Once Brewed, and creating a nationally significant landscape discovery centre which will ensure that young people can continue to enjoy exciting outdoor experiences in Northumberland National Park.’

The HLF grant will help to secure the future of the project, with construction expected to begin on the site later this year. The activity programme will start this autumn, and the landscape discovery building will open its doors to the public in June 2017.

For more information about the project, visit www.thesill.org.uk

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Picture Credit: Courtesy Jane Darbyshire and David Kendall

Get close the nature in Suffolk

VISITORS will be going to Minsmere in Suffolk in a few months' time to see the stars of BBC’s Springwatch for themselves, but the county has many other locations for birdwatching.

Aside from Minsmere, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) manages a number of other reserves in the area including Havergate Island, which has a second nature reserve on what is the largest vegetated shingle spit in Europe. 

Inland, RSPB Lakenheath Fen is one of the few places in the UK where golden orioles breed.

Not far from Southwold, Suffolk Wildlife Trust manages Benacre Broad, a great place to see winter waders on the River Hundred. A few miles down the coast, you might see East Anglian favourites including avocet, bittern, and marsh harriers at the Suffolk Coast National Nature Reserve (NNR). Open all year round, the site has a public footpath and bird hide. The NNR also covers Dingle Marshes where otters, one of five species of deer, and natterjack toads can be seen.

The Suffolk Owl Sanctuary is open to the public all year round. As well as providing critical care and convalescence for injured wild owls and other birds of prey, the sanctuary has more than 80 raptors. Fully wheelchair-friendly, it also has a sensory garden and gives visitors to get lose with various species of owl, as well as a family group of meerkats, and a number of red squirrels.

www.takemetosuffolk.com

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Picture Credit: "Flying geese over Marsh Farm - geograph.org.uk - 1396242" by Dave Croker via Wikimedia Commons.

How to see more of Exmoor

2014 has seen Exmoor National Park celebrating its 60^th birthday.  

As part of the celebrations, a website that covers the whole of Greater Exmoor has been launched offering fresh content … www.visit-exmoor.co.uk

As well as practical information about accommodation, restaurants, transport, and  visitor centres, the website is a resource for visitors seeking inspiration and new experiences, including the best places for stargazing, joining guided walks, swimming through caves and in rockpools, and spotting bats at Horner Woods, which has 16 of Britain’s 18 bat species.

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Picture Credit: Nigel Stone

Where to see the stars

NORTHUMBERLAND is one of the best counties in England see the stars. Its coast is also renowned as being one of the best spots outside Norway to catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis, colloquially known as the Northern Lights.

There are some not-to-be-missed – and free – stargazing events taking place in Northumberland over the next few months.

Led by NASTRO (Northumberland Astronomical Society), they are:

· Thursday, November 27 at Barn at Beal, Beal, Northumberland. 7pm. www.barnatbeal.com

· Friday, December 5, Bamburgh Pavilion. 6pm

· Wednesday, January 21, Warkworth Golf Club. 7pm

· Friday, February 13, Howick Village Hall. 7pm

· Saturday, March 14, Hunting Hall, Lowick. 7pm. www.huntinghall.co.uk

The events include a “tours” of the Solar System and the night sky, talks and guidance on photography and, weather permitting, an opportunity to observe the stars using telescopes. 

The events are free, but booking is essential as spaces are limited.

To book, visit the Northumberland Coast AONB website … www.northumberland.gov.uk, and for more information about stargazing events, go to www.visitnorthumberland.com/darkskies/experiences

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