Do you love the sky in all its natural glory? Do you love looking up at the dark abyss and seeing splatters of stars all around? It’s truly euphoric to look up into a clear night sky, and Exmoor knows the beauty of this — it’s the place that protects this beauty, and it’s the first Dark Sky Reserve in Europe.
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Download the GuideA dark skies reserve is a place where there is little to no light pollution, allowing for much clearer night skies. These areas are well-controlled in terms of light to protect them — so many places now are built up with housing, and with housing comes street lights, garden lights, sensor lights and more. This is why dark skies reserves are so important for people and wildlife alike.
If you love the Milky Way (not the theme park), starry skies and spotting the moon in all her glory, then Exmoor is the place to be. Whether you simply wish to sit and stargaze or set up for professional photography, Exmoor Dark Skies Reserve welcomes you.
Different seasons can bring about a variety in how the sky appears. It will also impact what sort of time you decide to visit, set up a camera, or just take yourself — for example, you’d have to stay much later in summer to see the darkest sky.
However, this also depends on preference; if you’d prefer a later sunset and plan to stay the night, going in summer could be a good choice, as the nights are warmer and you’ll need less stuff. On the other hand, the sky is generally darker in winter due to lower humidity, longer periods of darkness and the sinking cool air — allowing for more striking stargazing.
Best season to visit: generally, autumn is best for the clearest stars. The sky is more stable in terms of cloud cover, you don’t have to wait until midnight for it to get dark, and it’s not as bitterly cold as winter — autumn offers a happy medium for stargazers.
Like the seasons, the moon has its phases too. Every time you choose to visit, the moon will likely be in a different phase — you could plan your visit around a specific phase, depending on what you’d like to see.
Hardly visible, and at times not visible at all. Stars appear much brighter with no moonlight — perfect for stargazers.
The moon is growing toward full, looking a little different each night. A great mix of stars and moonlight.
The moon at its brightest. Visit now if the moon itself is what you’re after — great for photographers.
The opposite of waxing — the moon is darkening again as it heads back towards a new moon.
Exmoor often has events going on that you can attend if you wish to visit at the same time. There are times of guided stargazing, such as during the Dark Skies Festival, or you could consider visiting during eclipses, planet alignments and more.
A lunar cycle (roughly a month) will always offer a new moon and a full moon. Sometimes you’ll be lucky enough to have two full moons in one cycle — this is called a blue moon, which occurs roughly every three years. Throughout the year there will also be a variety of moons, some appearing different from others; the supermoon, for example, is when the moon is closest to Earth and appears much larger than usual, perfect for photos.
Autumn tends to offer the best combination of dark skies, stable cloud cover and milder temperatures than winter.
For the clearest view of the stars and Milky Way, visit during a new moon when there’s no moonlight to wash them out. Visit during a full moon if you specifically want to see the moon itself.
A blue moon is when two full moons occur within the same calendar month — it happens roughly once every three years.
Yes — Exmoor hosts guided stargazing during its Dark Skies Festival, alongside other events tied to eclipses and planet alignments throughout the year.
We would put this at the absolute top of our list for spots to stargaze in Exmoor, given its stunning location. Wimbleball Lake is — as the name suggests — a gorgeous lake nestled in the expansive countryside. What makes this spot so special is the lake, as the reflections you can see during a clear night will be magical.
This is great for a simple, open spot to pitch up and watch the sky — perfect for families, friends and photographers who want an easy spot to set up a camera or telescope. There’s a nearby car park at Haddon Hill too, so it’s very accessible for those who don’t wish to walk far.
This wouldn’t be a complete list without Dunkery Beacon, the highest point on Exmoor, making it one of the optimal locations to soak in the sparkling night sky. It has a car park about a 20-minute walk away, meaning anyone can enjoy the dramatic views of this location.
A recognised ‘dark site’, meaning it’s significantly easier to see the true night sky in all its glittering glory. There are lay-bys around that you can park up in and look at the sky, or find a car park in Simonsbath and walk instead.
Wimbleball Lake and Haddon Hill both get a 10/10 sky rating in our guide — Wimbleball for its lake reflections, Haddon Hill for its high, open, easily accessible summit.
Haddon Hill and Brendon Two Gates are both very accessible, with flat ground close to the car park or roadside.
Wimbleball Lake’s still water gives beautiful reflections on a clear night, making it a favourite with photographers.
Brendon Two Gates is the least recognised by tourists, so it’s a good choice if you want a quiet, uncrowded spot to yourself.
Exmoor Dark Skies Reserve is a stunning place to explore for tourists and locals alike, whether you’re a seasoned stargazer with top-end gear or simply want to enjoy a night under the stars. And if you fancy making it more than just a day trip, take a look at some of our Exmoor holiday cottages — you can see the stars and then come back to a warm bath and a cosy bed.
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