Dark Sky Locations
Discover Britain's darkest skies
Explore the places across the UK where artificial light is reduced and the natural night sky is still visible. From recognised Dark Sky Parks to remote rural landscapes, these are the locations where stargazing experiences begin.
Explore the darkness
Light pollution has a huge impact on what we can see above us. This map shows how artificial lighting affects the night sky and helps reveal some of the UK's darkest regions.
Northumberland International Dark Sky Park Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park Tomintoul & Glenlivet – Cairngorms Dark Sky Park Eryri (Snowdonia) Dark Sky Reserve Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) Dark Sky Reserve Exmoor International Dark Sky Reserve South Downs Dark Sky Reserve Cranborne Chase Dark Sky Reserve Yorkshire Dales Dark Sky Reserve North York Moors Dark Sky ReserveBritain's darkest regions
Some of the UK's best stargazing locations are found in protected landscapes and remote rural areas where surrounding light pollution is limited.
- Northumberland — home to England's largest International Dark Sky Park.
- Galloway Forest — Scotland's first Dark Sky Park, known for exceptionally dark skies.
- Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) — one of Wales' most famous stargazing destinations.
- Exmoor — recognised for some of England's darkest skies.
How Starnook identifies dark sky locations
A location being described as "remote" does not always mean it has dark skies.
We look at recognised measurements alongside practical observations that influence the experience after sunset.
- Bortle Scale classification
- Sky Quality Meter (SQM) readings where available
- Artificial lighting nearby
- Open views and horizons
- The ability to enjoy the sky from the accommodation
Learn more about our approach: How we measure dark sky quality →
Stay beneath darker skies
Starnook connects travellers with cabins, shepherd's huts and lodges located beneath some of Britain's most impressive night skies.