# Dark skies and stargazing in Northumberland Northumberland International Dark Sky Park is a Gold tier International Dark Sky Park, designated in December 2013, covering about 1,482 square kilometres of Northumberland National Park and Kielder Water and Forest Park. Go on a clear night near new moon between autumn and early spring (the next new moon is Saturday 10 October 2026): Kielder Observatory is the big booked night out, and the Dark Sky Discovery Sites such as Walltown and Cawfields cost nothing but the parking. Live tonight's sky tool: https://bairnsandbeaches.co.uk/dark-skies.html ## Northumberland International Dark Sky Park The International Dark-Sky Association (now DarkSky International) awarded Northumberland Gold Tier Dark Sky Park status in December 2013, the highest level it gives, and it was England's first International Dark Sky Park. It covers the whole of Northumberland National Park and most of Kielder Water and Forest Park, about 1,482 square kilometres (Visit Northumberland rounds it to 572 square miles), and DarkSky International says it was the first Dark Sky Park made up of two separate parkland units. Part of what keeps it dark is lighting control: the National Park asks for outside lights that are fully shielded or point down and for warm white LEDs under 3000 kelvin, and uses an Exterior Lighting Master Plan in planning decisions. The CPRE's 2016 Night Blight report found Northumberland had the most pristine dark skies in England, and 96 per cent of the park has low levels of light pollution. Beyond the park, the county has more Dark Sky Discovery Sites in the North Pennines (Allen Banks and Allendale Golf Course), and businesses such as Battlesteads and the Redesdale Arms hold Northumberland Tourism's Dark Sky Stay and Gaze status. Source: https://darksky.org/places/northumberland-national-park-and-kielder-water-forest-dark-sky-park/ ## The night of Wednesday 30 September 2026 at Kielder Observatory (UK time, worked out when this page was built) - Moon: Waning gibbous, 78% lit - Sunset: 18:49 - Full darkness: 20:51 to 05:10 (Thu) - Sunrise: 07:13 (Thu) ## New and full moons (UK time) - New moon: Saturday 10 October 2026, 16:50 BST - Full moon: Monday 26 October 2026, 04:12 GMT - New moon: Monday 9 November 2026, 07:02 GMT - Full moon: Tuesday 24 November 2026, 14:54 GMT - New moon: Wednesday 9 December 2026, 00:52 GMT - Full moon: Thursday 24 December 2026, 01:28 GMT - New moon: Thursday 7 January 2027, 20:24 GMT - Full moon: Friday 22 January 2027, 12:17 GMT - New moon: Saturday 6 February 2027, 15:56 GMT - Full moon: Saturday 20 February 2027, 23:24 GMT - New moon: Monday 8 March 2027, 09:30 GMT - Full moon: Monday 22 March 2027, 10:44 GMT ## Where to go stargazing ### Kielder Observatory Observatory, Kielder, NE48 1EJ. Booking: required. The big one: astronomers, big telescopes and what it calls the UK's largest stargazing programme. Sessions last up to three hours and go ahead even if it's cloudy, when the team switch to tours, demonstrations and talks, so a grey night isn't a wasted drive. It sits right in the middle of the Dark Sky Park, which is the whole point. - Facilities: Public observatory on Black Fell above Kielder, run by a registered charity (Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society, opened 2008). Telescopes include a 16-inch mounted at a height that works for wheelchair users. A hot drink comes with main and late sessions and the shop sells snacks. No baby change. - Parking: Free parking at the observatory during events. Drive all the way up the two-mile single-track forest road (compacted stone, 15mph limit, fine for normal cars and motorhomes). The track opens about 30 minutes before your session. - Toilets: Two unisex composting toilets, one wheelchair accessible. - Tips: Book early: it can be fully booked up to three months ahead and tickets are non-refundable. Main evening and late sessions suit ages 12 and over, family sessions are for younger kids, and nobody under 4. Prices on the calendar in late September 2026 were £39 for main events, £42 for some longer sessions, £49 for late events and £25 for family events, per person. It's properly cold up there all year, so layers, hats and a red torch. Assistance dogs only. - Official page: https://kielderobservatory.org/ ### Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory Observatory, Wark on Tyne, NE48 3LS. Booking: required. A Milky Way class Dark Sky Discovery Site on the edge of the Dark Sky Park, with a programme that runs from Astronomy for Absolute Beginners and kids' rocket sessions to aurora hunting, astrophotography and a Shooting Star Supper in the restaurant. From Tyneside it's a fair bit nearer than Kielder, and the hotel bar is open to observatory guests. - Facilities: Public observatory in the grounds of the Battlesteads hotel, staffed by astronomers from AstroVentures. A 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain on a GoTo mount, Dobsonian telescopes and binoculars for each guest. Open whatever the weather, and the hotel bar and toilets are open to observatory guests. - Parking: Parking at the hotel (Visit Northumberland). It's on the B6320 Bellingham road, 12 miles north of Hexham, and the 680 bus from Hexham stops outside if you ask the driver. - Toilets: Hotel toilets, available to observatory guests. - Tips: Advance booking is essential. Prices sit on each event's own page rather than the main one, so check there. Some Mondays are free for astronomical society members and local residents. - Official page: https://www.battlesteads.com/observatory ### Twice Brewed Inn Observatory and Planetarium Observatory, Bardon Mill, NE47 7AN. Booking: required. The planetarium is the clever bit: if the sky clouds over you still get a show, and you can have your tea in the pub before and stay the night after. For anyone based on the Hadrian's Wall side of the county it's a much shorter drive than Kielder. - Facilities: Kielder Observatory's satellite site at the Twice Brewed Inn near Hadrian's Wall: an observatory and a planetarium, officially opened by Robson Green in May 2026. Food and rooms at the inn. Visit Northumberland lists wheelchair access. - Parking: Parking at the inn (Visit Northumberland). Same postcode as The Sill. - Toilets: Pub toilets. - Tips: Sessions are booked through Kielder Observatory's events page (0191 265 5510), not the pub. We couldn't find published prices for this site, so check when you book. - Official page: https://kielderobservatory.org/the-observatory/twice-brewed-inn ### NASTRO Hauxley Observatory Observatory, Low Hauxley, near Amble, NE65 0JR. Booking: varies. The coastal option, outside the Dark Sky Park, where a local society opens its telescopes to the public from time to time. Handy if you're staying round Amble or Warkworth and can't face the drive inland on a school night. - Facilities: Observatory of the Northumberland Astronomical Society (NASTRO, founded 2000, about 70 members) at the Low Hauxley nature reserve run by Northumberland Wildlife Trust. Non-members can go to society meetings for £3 at the door. - Parking: Not published for evening sessions; check with NASTRO. - Toilets: Not published for evening sessions. - Tips: Public observing sessions are occasional, so watch NASTRO's meetings and events page. Low Hauxley is a dog-free reserve and that includes observing nights. - Official page: https://www.nastro.org.uk/ ### Cawfields Quarry picnic site Dark Sky Discovery Site, Haltwhistle, NE49 9PJ. Booking: none. A Dark Sky Discovery Site right on Hadrian's Wall with its own stargazing platform, toilets and flat, firm ground, so it works with a wheelchair or a buggy full of sleeping bairn. The Sill's own website sends people here for dark skies. - Facilities: Sheltered picnic area with a stargazing platform, information point, firm ground suitable for wheelchairs, and a refreshment pod (daytime). - Parking: National Park pay car park opposite the Milecastle Inn, reached from Haltwhistle. No overnight parking. - Toilets: Public toilets including a Changing Places toilet. Check night opening before you rely on them. - Tips: The quarry lake is right beside you and at night it's very, very dark, so keep hold of small hands near the edge. No swimming, no overnight parking. Use a red torch and give your eyes 20 minutes. - Official page: https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/discover-explore/places-to-visit/hadrians-wall/cawfields/ ### Walltown Country Park Dark Sky Discovery Site, Greenhead, CA8 7JD. Booking: none. Our pick for a first go with small kids: 24-hour toilets, level paths and the car right there, all on a Dark Sky Discovery Site. When someone announces they are freezing (they will), you're back in the car in a minute. - Facilities: Flexi-paved paths, Tramper (all-terrain mobility scooter) hire, EV charging, cycle hub, and a visitor centre with refreshments open April to October. - Parking: Ample parking with EV charging. The AD122 Hadrian's Wall bus stops here. - Toilets: Toilets and a Changing Places facility open 24 hours, all year. - Tips: The visitor centre shuts over winter, so bring your own flask. Many Dark Sky Discovery Sites have star map boards to help you find the main constellations. - Official page: https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/discover-explore/places-to-visit/hadrians-wall/walltown-country-park/ ### The Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre Viewpoint, Once Brewed, NE47 7AN. Booking: none. On the National Park's Dark Sky Park leaflet, with a big car park and 24-hour toilets. The building shuts at 5pm (April to October hours), so treat it as a well-equipped car park on the edge of some very dark countryside. - Facilities: Discovery centre with café, shop and exhibitions, open 10am to 5pm April to October. Two EV charging posts. - Parking: Pay car park: first 15 minutes free, up to 2 hours £3, then £1 an hour to a £6 maximum. Cars and motorhomes can be left overnight for £10, but no camping or sleeping in vans. Blue Badge holders pay too. - Toilets: The National Park's Dark Sky Park leaflet lists 24-hour toilets here. - Tips: The Sill points stargazers to Cawfields Dark Sky Discovery Site for the darker sky. The Twice Brewed Inn planetarium shares the postcode, so you can pair a booked session with a look up afterwards. - Official page: https://www.thesill.org.uk/ ### Stonehaugh Stargazing Pavilion Dark Sky Discovery Site, Stonehaugh, NE48 3DZ. Booking: none. A purpose-built stargazing shelter in a tiny village, on Visit Kielder's list of Dark Sky Discovery locations. The community group Stonehaugh Astronomy, listed by the National Park, runs stargazing here. - Facilities: Community stargazing pavilion completed in summer 2014, designed by Newcastle University architecture students using recycled materials. - Parking: Park at the nearby picnic site. - Toilets: None published. - Tips: People live a stone's throw away, so keep voices and headlights down, as the National Park asks at all village sites. - Official page: https://www.visitnorthumberland.com/inspire-me/blogs/stargaze-for-less-with-dark-sky-discovery-sites ### Kielder Castle car park Viewpoint, Kielder, NE48 1ER. Booking: none. Listed on the National Park's Dark Sky Park leaflet and right in Kielder village, so it's the easy fallback if you're staying nearby or waiting for an observatory slot. - Facilities: Forestry England car park in Kielder village. The castle is closed for renovation (Forestry England still said 'reopening 2026' with no date on 29 September 2026); trails, Team Cycles and the car park are open. - Parking: Up to 1 hour £2.50, all day £6.50, and the all-day ticket runs to 3am so you can stargaze. Overnight parking after 5pm is £15. - Toilets: Not confirmed while the castle is closed; don't count on them. - Tips: If you're heading home before 3am, the £6.50 all-day ticket covers you; you only need the £15 overnight one if you're stopping. - Official page: https://www.forestryengland.uk/kielder-castle ### Kielder Campsite Dark Sky Discovery Site, Kielder, NE48 1EJ. Booking: varies. One of Visit Kielder's seven Dark Sky Discovery locations, and the only one where you can crawl into a sleeping bag afterwards without driving anywhere. - Facilities: Campsite in Kielder village; its facilities are for guests. Go Stargazing lists it as Dark Sky Stay and Gaze accommodation, and it hosts the Kielder Forest Star Camp (7 to 12 October 2026). - Parking: For campsite guests. - Toilets: Campsite facilities, for guests. - Tips: Book the pitch and an observatory session together, then you're not driving the forest roads at midnight. - Official page: https://www.visitkielder.com/play/discover/dark-skies ### Tower Knowe Visitor Centre (lower car park) Dark Sky Discovery Site, Falstone, NE48 1BX. Booking: none. A Dark Sky Discovery location close to Kielder Dam, and what Visit Kielder calls the gateway centre for most people visiting Kielder. - Facilities: Visitor centre near Kielder Dam with café (weekends 11am to 5pm), shop, information and disabled access, open April to October. - Parking: Use the lower car park for stargazing (Visit Kielder). Charges not published on the page we checked. - Toilets: Only when the visitor centre is open, April to October. Don't rely on them at night. - Tips: It's the lower car park that's the designated spot, not the main one. - Official page: https://www.visitkielder.com/visit/visitor-centres/tower-knowe/ ### Elf Kirk Viewpoint Dark Sky Discovery Site, Kielder Water, NE48 1BX. Booking: none. One of Visit Kielder's seven Dark Sky Discovery locations, by Kielder Water and away from village lights. - Facilities: Viewpoint on Kielder Water; no facilities published. - Parking: Follow the signs at Kielder Water (National Park leaflet). Go Stargazing gives NE48 1BX, which is the Tower Knowe postcode, so use the signs. - Toilets: None published. - Tips: Find it in daylight first. Water's edge, forest roads and no lights is not a combination to work out in the pitch black with kids in the back. - Official page: https://www.visitkielder.com/play/discover/dark-skies ### Hawkhope car park Dark Sky Discovery Site, Falstone. Booking: none. A Visit Kielder Dark Sky Discovery location by Kielder Dam. - Facilities: Car park near Kielder Dam; no facilities published. - Parking: Car park. Follow the signs at Kielder Water (National Park leaflet). - Toilets: None published. - Tips: Scout it in daylight, then come back after dark. - Official page: https://www.visitkielder.com/play/discover/dark-skies ### Falstone Village Hall and The Stell Dark Sky Discovery Site, Falstone, NE48 1AA. Booking: none. Visit Kielder lists The Stell at Falstone as a Dark Sky Discovery location and the National Park leaflet lists Falstone Village Hall. - Facilities: Village hall and The Stell; no night facilities published. - Parking: Village parking; none published specifically for stargazing. - Toilets: None published. - Tips: Be quiet and keep headlights dipped: it's a village and people are trying to sleep. - Official page: https://www.visitkielder.com/play/discover/dark-skies ### Tarset Village Hall Dark Sky Discovery Site, Tarset, NE48 1NT. Booking: none. A Dark Sky Discovery location in the Tarset valley between Bellingham and Kielder, on both Visit Kielder's list and the National Park leaflet. - Facilities: Village hall; no night facilities published. - Parking: Not published. - Toilets: None published. - Tips: Use a red torch and be courteous to neighbours, as the National Park asks. - Official page: https://www.visitkielder.com/play/discover/dark-skies ### Elsdon Village Green Dark Sky Discovery Site, Elsdon, NE19 1AF. Booking: none. A Dark Sky Discovery Site in a quiet Redesdale village, on the National Park's leaflet (Go Stargazing lists it as Elsdon Village Hall). - Facilities: Village green; no night facilities published. - Parking: Not published. - Toilets: None published. - Tips: Keep noise down: you're on a village green. - Official page: https://gostargazing.co.uk/regions/dark-sky-park/northumberland-dark-sky-park/ ### Byrness Dark Sky Discovery Site, Byrness, NE19 1TT. Booking: none. Listed as a Dark Sky Discovery Site on the National Park's leaflet, and about as far from streetlights as a village on an A road gets. - Facilities: Small village on the A68; no stargazing facilities published. - Parking: Not published. - Toilets: None published. - Tips: Pull well off the road and be considerate to residents. - Official page: https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/NNPA-Dark-Sky-Park-Leaflet-accessible.pdf ### Rochester Roundhouse Dark Sky Discovery Site, Rochester, NE19 1TA. Booking: none. A Dark Sky Discovery Site in Redesdale with a proper bit of architecture to sit in, rather than a lay-by. - Facilities: Community pavilion designed by Newcastle University students on the site of the old Brigantium roundhouse, with an outdoor amphitheatre space built from the old walls. - Parking: Not published. - Toilets: None published. - Tips: If you want a warm base in Redesdale, the Redesdale Arms holds Dark Sky Stay and Gaze status. - Official page: https://www.visitnorthumberland.com/inspire-me/blogs/stargaze-for-less-with-dark-sky-discovery-sites ### Alwinton car park Dark Sky Discovery Site, Alwinton, NE65 7BQ. Booking: none. A designated Dark Sky Discovery Site in Upper Coquetdale, and the one to aim for if you're staying around Rothbury. - Facilities: National Park car park in Upper Coquetdale; no other facilities published for night visits. - Parking: National Park car park, through the village on your right. what3words: clearcut.textiles.carting. - Toilets: None published for night use. - Tips: Go once in daylight so you know where the car park is, and watch for sheep on the road after dark. - Official page: https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/discover-explore/places-to-visit/coquetdale/alwinton/ ### Ingram and Bulby's Wood car park, Breamish Valley Dark Sky Discovery Site, Ingram, NE66 4LT. Booking: none. A Dark Sky Discovery Site in the Breamish Valley, where Visit Northumberland says you can see up to 2,000 stars. Of the park's Discovery Sites, it's the nearest to Alnwick. - Facilities: Free toilets and bike parking at Ingram; Ingram Cafe (daytime, seven days) in the former National Park visitor centre. - Parking: Park at nearby Bulby's Wood on the River Breamish. - Toilets: Free public toilets at Ingram; night opening not published. - Tips: Take care near the water's edge at night, which the site guidance specifically warns about. - Official page: https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/discover-explore/places-to-visit/the-cheviots/ingram/ ### Kirknewton Village Hall Dark Sky Discovery Site, Kirknewton, NE71 6XF. Booking: none. The northernmost site on the National Park's Dark Sky Park list, and the easy one from Wooler. - Facilities: Village hall; no night facilities published. - Parking: Not published. - Toilets: None published. - Tips: It's a village hall, so arrive quietly and don't block anyone in. - Official page: https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/discover-explore/places-to-visit/the-cheviots/kirknewton/ ### Allen Banks Dark Sky Discovery Site, Bardon Mill, NE47 7BP. Booking: none. One of the North Pennines' Dark Sky Discovery Sites that falls inside Northumberland, just south of the Dark Sky Park. - Facilities: National Trust woodland and gorge near Ridley Hall. Uneven, steep paths beyond the level ground by the car park. - Parking: National Trust car park: 4 hours £3, all day £5. - Toilets: Toilets including a mobility toilet in the main block (daytime). - Tips: The National Trust lists opening as dawn to dusk, so check with them before planning a night visit. - Official page: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/allen-banks-and-staward-gorge ## Meteor showers coming up - Draconids: peak night Friday 9 October 2026, ZHR 10. New Moon is on 10 October (USNO), so there's no moonlight at all. Low rates, about 10 an hour. - Southern Taurids: peak night Saturday 10 October 2026, ZHR 5. New Moon the same day (USNO), so dark all night. Only about 5 an hour, but they are very slow. - Orionids: peak night Wednesday 21 October 2026, ZHR 15. Waxing gibbous Moon about 80 per cent lit (first quarter 18 October, full 26 October, USNO). At Kielder it sets around 1.30am on the 21st and 2.50am on the 22nd (calculated, checked against USNO), so watch between moonset and dawn. - Northern Taurids: peak night Thursday 12 November 2026, ZHR 5. Thin crescent Moon (new Moon 9 November, USNO) that sets around 5.20pm, so the night is dark. - Leonids: peak night Wednesday 18 November 2026, ZHR 15. First quarter Moon on 17 November (USNO). It sets around 11.30pm on the 17th at Kielder (calculated), leaving the early hours of the 18th dark. - Geminids: peak night Monday 14 December 2026, ZHR 120. Waxing crescent about 17 to 20 per cent lit, setting at 7.58pm on the 13th and around 9.15pm on the 14th at Kielder (USNO and calculated). Dark for most of both nights, so this is the one to go out for. - Ursids: peak night Tuesday 22 December 2026, ZHR 10. Full Moon on 24 December (USNO), so a nearly full Moon washes most of them out. - Quadrantids: peak night Sunday 3 January 2027, ZHR 120. Waning crescent about 13 per cent lit that doesn't rise until about 6.20am on the 4th at Kielder (calculated; new Moon 7 January, USNO), so the pre-dawn peak hours are close to moonless. The peak is short. - Lyrids: peak night Friday 23 April 2027, ZHR 18. Waning gibbous Moon about 90 per cent lit (full Moon 20 April, USNO) rising around midnight, and full darkness at Kielder only runs from about 11pm to 3am (calculated). Poor year. - Eta Aquariids: peak night Wednesday 5 May 2027, ZHR 40. New Moon on 6 May (USNO), so no moonlight, but the radiant is low from the UK and Kielder gets only about an hour of full darkness that night (calculated). Expect few. - Perseids: peak night Thursday 12 August 2027, ZHR 150. Waxing gibbous Moon, 84 to 88 per cent lit (first quarter 9 August, full 17 August, USNO), setting around 12.50am on the 13th at Kielder (calculated). After that it's dark until dawn twilight. ## The northern lights The northern lights do turn up over Northumberland, but not often and not to order. BBC Sky at Night Magazine names Kielder Forest among the northern England sites that report aurora sightings several times a year, and Visit Northumberland says they have been seen along the coast. The British Geological Survey says the best chance is around local midnight, 10pm to 2am, with the strongest storms tending to come around the spring and autumn equinoxes, and you want a clear view north, from the coast or a hilltop. UK displays are often faint enough that a phone camera picks up colour your eyes don't, so take a test shot before deciding it's a no-show. - AuroraWatch UK (Lancaster University): free alerts by app, Telegram, Facebook and X. Amber means aurora is likely visible by eye from northern England; red means likely visible from anywhere in the UK. - Met Office space weather forecast: a four-day outlook for geomagnetic activity and where aurora might be seen. - British Geological Survey: real-time geomagnetic activity and the @BGSauroraAlert account on X. - Check the cloud forecast too: an amber alert is no use under a lid of cloud. - Pick a spot with a low, open northern horizon away from town lights, such as the coast or a Dark Sky Discovery Site with a view north. ## Questions people ask ### When is the best time for stargazing in Northumberland? Autumn and winter, on a clear night within a few days of new Moon. New Moons are 10 October, 9 November and 9 December 2026, then 7 January, 6 February and 8 March 2027 (US Naval Observatory). Avoid mid May to early August, when it never gets fully dark at Kielder. ### Is Kielder Observatory worth it? Yes, if you book ahead and dress for the cold. Sessions run up to three hours with astronomers and big telescopes, and go ahead even if it's cloudy, with talks and tours instead. Prices in late September 2026 were £39 for main events, £49 for late events and £25 for family events, and it can sell out three months ahead. ### Where is the best place to see the northern lights in Northumberland? Anywhere dark with a clear, low view north: the coast, or a dark site in the park such as Kielder Forest, which BBC Sky at Night Magazine says reports aurora sightings several times a year. Go when AuroraWatch UK shows amber or red and the cloud forecast is clear. ### Where can I go stargazing in Northumberland for free? The Dark Sky Discovery Sites cost nothing beyond parking. Walltown Country Park and Cawfields near Haltwhistle have toilets and level ground, and there are others at Stonehaugh, Ingram, Alwinton, Kirknewton, Elsdon and around Kielder Water. ### How big is the Northumberland Dark Sky Park? About 1,482 square kilometres (572 square miles), covering all of Northumberland National Park and most of Kielder Water and Forest Park. It got Gold Tier status in December 2013, the first International Dark Sky Park in England. ### Can you take children to Kielder Observatory? Yes, from age 4. Family sessions are aimed at under 12s and cost £25 on the late September 2026 calendar, while main evening and late sessions are best for 12 and over. ### Can you see the Milky Way in Northumberland? Yes, on moonless nights away from lights, especially from late August through the winter. It's hard to see from mid May to late July because the sky never gets fully dark. ### Do I need a telescope to go stargazing in Northumberland? No. The National Park suggests starting with your eyes, a red torch and 20 minutes to let them adjust, then 10x50 binoculars if you want an upgrade. ## Sources - [DarkSky International: Northumberland National Park and Kielder Water & Forest Park](https://darksky.org/places/northumberland-national-park-and-kielder-water-forest-dark-sky-park/) - [Visit Kielder: Dark skies](https://www.visitkielder.com/play/discover/dark-skies) - [Northumberland National Park: Discover dark skies](https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/discover-explore/things-to-do/discover-dark-skies/) - [Northumberland National Park: Protecting dark skies](https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/discover-explore/things-to-do/discover-dark-skies/protected-dark-skies/) - [Northumberland National Park: Top tips for stargazing](https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/discover-explore/things-to-do/discover-dark-skies/beginners-guide/) - [Northumberland National Park: Where to stargaze](https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/discover-explore/things-to-do/discover-dark-skies/where-to-stargaze/) - [Northumberland National Park: Dark Sky Park leaflet (PDF)](https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/NNPA-Dark-Sky-Park-Leaflet-accessible.pdf) - [Visit Northumberland: Dark skies](https://www.visitnorthumberland.com/explore/destinations/darkskies) - [Visit Northumberland: Stargaze for less with Dark Sky Discovery Sites](https://www.visitnorthumberland.com/inspire-me/blogs/stargaze-for-less-with-dark-sky-discovery-sites) - [Go Stargazing: Northumberland Dark Sky Park](https://gostargazing.co.uk/regions/dark-sky-park/northumberland-dark-sky-park/) - [North Pennines National Landscape: Dark Sky Discovery Sites](https://northpennines.org.uk/visit-explore/stargazing/dark-sky-discovery-sites/) - [Dark Sky Discovery: sites map](https://www.darkskydiscovery.org.uk/dark-sky-discovery-sites/) - [Kielder Observatory](https://kielderobservatory.org/) - [Kielder Observatory: Event information](https://kielderobservatory.org/event-information-2) - [Kielder Observatory: Event FAQs](https://kielderobservatory.org/events/faqs) - [Kielder Observatory: Events calendar and prices](https://kielderobservatory.org/our-events) - [Kielder Observatory: Twice Brewed Inn](https://kielderobservatory.org/the-observatory/twice-brewed-inn) - [Wikipedia: Kielder Observatory (coordinates)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kielder_Observatory) - [Visit Northumberland: Twice Brewed Inn Observatory](https://www.visitnorthumberland.com/explore/things-to-do/attractions/science-technology/twice-brewed-inn-observatory) - [Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory](https://www.battlesteads.com/observatory) - [Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory: About](https://www.battlesteads.com/observatory/about) - [Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory: Find us](https://www.battlesteads.com/observatory/find-us) - [Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory: Events](https://www.battlesteads.com/observatory/events) - [Visit Northumberland: Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory](https://www.visitnorthumberland.com/explore/things-to-do/attractions/science-technology/battlesteads-dark-sky-observatory) - [The Sill](https://www.thesill.org.uk/) - [The Sill: Car parking](https://www.thesill.org.uk/visit/car-parking/) - [Northumberland National Park: Cawfields](https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/discover-explore/places-to-visit/hadrians-wall/cawfields/) - [Northumberland National Park: Walltown Country Park](https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/discover-explore/places-to-visit/hadrians-wall/walltown-country-park/) - [Northumberland National Park: Alwinton](https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/discover-explore/places-to-visit/coquetdale/alwinton/) - [Northumberland National Park: Ingram](https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/discover-explore/places-to-visit/the-cheviots/ingram/) - [Visit Kielder: Tower Knowe](https://www.visitkielder.com/visit/visitor-centres/tower-knowe/) - [Forestry England: Kielder Castle](https://www.forestryengland.uk/kielder-castle) - [National Trust: Allen Banks and Staward Gorge](https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/allen-banks-and-staward-gorge) - [NASTRO, Northumberland Astronomical Society](https://www.nastro.org.uk/) - [Royal Museums Greenwich: Meteor shower guide 2026 and 2027](https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/meteor-shower-guide) - [Royal Observatory Greenwich: Full Moon calendar 2026](https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/full-moon-calendar-2026) - [US Naval Observatory: Moon phases 2026](https://aa.usno.navy.mil/api/moon/phases/year?year=2026) - [US Naval Observatory: Moon phases 2027](https://aa.usno.navy.mil/api/moon/phases/year?year=2027) - [US Naval Observatory: Sun and Moon data for Kielder, 13 December 2026](https://aa.usno.navy.mil/api/rstt/oneday?date=2026-12-13&coords=55.2319,-2.6163&tz=0) - [Royal Observatory Greenwich: Night sky highlights August 2026](https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/astronomy/night-sky-highlights-august-2026) - [Royal Observatory Greenwich: Night sky highlights January 2026](https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/astronomy/night-sky-highlights-january-2026) - [Royal Observatory Greenwich: Noctilucent clouds](https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/space-astronomy/noctilucent-clouds) - [AuroraWatch UK alerts (Lancaster University)](https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/alerts/) - [Met Office: Space weather forecast](https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/specialist-forecasts/space-weather) - [British Geological Survey: Viewing the northern lights in the UK](https://geomag.bgs.ac.uk/education/viewing_aurora.html) - [BBC Sky at Night Magazine: How to see the aurora in the UK](https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/how-to-see-the-aurora-in-the-uk)