Dark Skies- any recommendations for campsites where the sky is dark enough to see the Milky Way?

[Ketuk]

We're city-dwellers, and I would love it if the children had a chance to do some star gazing when we camp this year.

Does anyone remember which sites had the darkest skies at all?

Likely to be heading to Lake District or Yorkshire Dales this year, thanks.

Try here - I haven't been yet but it's suposed to be amazing. Plus I'm from a small Cumbrian village originally, and the clarity of the Milky Way there is stunning. :)

Oh- that looks lovely, thank you!

You need to go to Sandringham in Norfolk. Norfolk has by far the most amazing night skies. You won't be disappointed, I promise! (great campsite at Sandringham too by the way!)

Kelling Heath in Norfolk is famous for stargazing. They have huge star watching meets.

I understand Norfolk is the place for dark skies... but we will be nowhere near Norfolk this summer I'm afraid will definitely be NW/Ncentral, as we have an engagement to attend at the same time.

Galloway Forest Park in SW Scotland is the UK's first, and I think only, Dark Sky Park. You can wild camp in the forest if you follow certain guidelines. More information about the park is here and camping is here.
The Forest is lovely, especially round Glen Trool and Clatteringshaws.

Thank you Harriet- we would love to get up to Scotland, but I fear it would be too far for driving (children still small). I understand Kielder Forest also a Dark Skies park now?

Sorry- so fussy, I know

dark sky locations

Probably too far for you Ketuk but the tip of the Lleyn Peninsula in N Wales, down by Aberdaron (or even better Bardsey island) was the best star gazing I have have in the UK. Saw Saturn, mars and loads of other stuff when we were there at Easter.

ketuk We were in the Kielder Forest campsite last Friday night and had a FABULOUS view of the Milky Way. Seemed about 100 times more stars than I've seen anywhere else. We were hoping to see the meteor shower, but it didn't happen unfortunately. I would highly recommend the site too - we arrived at 5.25, and needed provisions, so the campsite lady phoned the local shop and asked them to keep open for us (they shut at 5.30). There were quite a few midges though, so be prepared!

Thank you slubber and boris! that article is great too, loads of ideas now