Stargazing in Peak District National Park

Stargazing – a simple yet intriguing and inspiring evening activity. The hope that a shooting star might pass, or that there will be a full moon, or seeing who can spot the biggest star – there’s so much excitement and interest in observing dark skies. We recommend stargazing between October and March, which is known as ‘observing season’ as this is the time from when clocks go back, and day light hours begin to fade and nights become longer.

The Peak District offers some dark skies where you can see afar, and one of the best spots is Hartington. The night skies are bursting with natural wonders and within the Dark Skies boxes you are given information about the above skies as well as advice on mobile apps to download which help you explore the dark skies.

Our Dark Skies boxes are also great for daytime enjoyment too, and include bird watching books for those who aren’t night owls. You can ask any of our friendly staff at the selected hostels for more information about hiring Dark Skies boxes. Equipment is available to hire from £5, and full kits are available for school groups to hire.