Dark campsites

jess · May 12, 2016

We are looking for some dark campsites to make use of our brand telescope ( new hobby ) living on the town we just have too much light pollution so we thought we would try and find some campsites that would be good for an amateur astronomer.

Thx

Jess x

DM · May 12, 2016

I guess anywhere away from population centres will be an improvement. But the problem with a lot of larger sites with good facilities will be that they are lit-up like a Christmas tree all night. Farm campsites are often better.

It's a long way to go but we had a great trip to the Hebrides a few years ago. You can stop overnight in pretty much any lay-bys. There are lots of tiny beach car parks (many with toilets / water) and you will almost certainly be the only person there. The problem in Scotland of course is that you might have to wait a while for a clear night

.

hirsty · May 12, 2016

Kielder

Teejay · May 13, 2016

Is Kielder not an official dark sky something or other (technical term alludes me)

vmaxkiddy · May 13, 2016

We stayed at East Fleet Farm (forum partner) and saw several telescopes outside caravans. You could also try caravan club CL sites, the ones we've used are usually away from major light pollution, Lincolnshire is also good for darker skies.

surfer-rich · May 13, 2016

You don't say where you're based @jess but we stayed at the Great Langdale Campsite in the Lake District over new year & it was pitch black, we even struggled seeing where we were going on the way back from the pub!

sidepod · May 13, 2016

Cloud Farm on Exmoor. Exmoor is an official light pollution reserve thingy place.

MattBW · May 13, 2016

There is a website which shows light pollution levels, find a dark area then look for a site in that area.

Such as this:
http://www.lightpollutionmap.info/#zoom=4&lat=7086596&lon=150761&layers=B0TFFFF

Alternatively this map has dark sky locations flagged specifically.
http://www.darkskydiscovery.org.uk/dark-sky-discovery-sites/map.html

MattBW · May 13, 2016

sidepod said:
Cloud Farm on Exmoor. Exmoor is an official light pollution reserve thingy place.

Exmoor and Dartmoor both pretty dark from my wild camping experience, so good call.

cpjb@btinternet.com · May 13, 2016

anywhere in the Peak District should be good.

snowy55 · May 13, 2016

If you go to a "dark area" and the campsite has all night lighting then you're still no better off, so best to ring the the campsite and check their lighting policy.