The Cheviot Hills, Northumberland National Park\n© Simon Fraser

Star Gazing

Dark Skies logo

With a resident population density of approximately two people per square mile, it’s perhaps not surprising that Northumberland National Park has some of the darkest skies in the region. The opportunities for star gazing are infinite and at this latitude, even the Aurora (Northern Lights) can be seen on those rare occasions of intense solar activity.

Many people consider dark skies as contributory factor to the area’s sense of tranquillity; however, it is a special quality that cannot be taken for granted. The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) has published Light Blight maps for the last 20 years, and though Northumberland is still considered the darkest County in the UK, its percentage of area with truly dark skies decreased by 28% and its average night time brightness rose a whopping 1,000% between 1993 and 2000. And this trend is still on the increase!

So let’s make the most of this wonderful asset. There are many places around the National Park where can still see truly dark skies, notably in the more northern areas such as the North Tyne Valley, Redesdale, Coquetdale and the Cheviots.

On Hadrian’s Wall, places like Cawfields Car Park; opposite The Milecastle Inn on the B6318 is only 45 minutes drive away from Newcastle or 30 minutes from Carlisle. During the autumn and winter months, this site will be host to a number of star gazing events and during the summer, solar gazing activities will keep you enthralled in the meantime.

Useful information:

Useful links:

© Northumberland National Park Authority, Eastburn, South Park, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 1BS, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1434 605555 Fax: +44 (0)1434 611675 Email: enquiries@nnpa.org.uk