UK family stargazing holiday (car free)

[Indigotree]

I read an article about two years ago about family holidays in Exmoor, I think, where you stay in a hostel and there are night time stargazing activities.

I can't find it anywhere googling now. Just the Exmoor dark skies festival, but that looks tricky without a car or somewhere cheap to stay.

(Not camping, as camping is very difficult without a car and it would be in cold weather.)

What I want is an affordable astronomy holiday suitable for a ten year old (with parent). I can't drive, so need somewhere easily accessible by train.

I've seen holiday lodges with telescopes etc. advertised, but they look expensive and inaccessible except by car. Something a bit more coordinated and with public transport would be ideal. Any ideas?

We have amazing stargazing here in the Brecon Beacons National Park, in South Wales - the area has been designated a Dark Skies Reserve and on clear nights in the autumn you can even see the Milky Way. Mid September would be a good time to come.

https://www.breconbeacons.org/things-to-do/activities/stargazing

Cardiff is easily accessible by train then the T4 bus will take you straight to Brecon town. This could be a good choice to stay as it is just out of the town away from the street lights and the cabin looks like it has everything so you'd only need to bring yourself!

https://www.breconglampingvillage.co.uk/cabin

That looks lovely! I was hoping to find specifically tailored astronomy holidays, but if they don't exist I'd love to try Brecon. I've never been.

The issue is that to get to dark skies areas you need to get away from people, and public transport is where people are.

Our camping set up would work for you on public transport as it fits on our motorcycle, tent is super light and sleeps 3-4. I second the Brecon Beacons (got a new name, can't remember it) or look at kielder up near Newcastle perhaps, again the last 15 miles might be hard without a car.

My parents have used this

www.astroadventures.co.uk/

If you don't find anything specifically pm me as I have some private connections I can't list publicly

Sark? It’s a dark sky island with no cars!

https://www.thepoltimoreinnnorthmolton.co.uk/poltimore-dark-sky-experience

Thank you all for these ideas!

Dalby forest has stargazing
you could get a train to the nearest station possibly on the Scarborough line then get a taxi.
I think there may be a bus that goes nearby too but not sure how near or frequent.
there are lodges there I think it’s Cropton forest lodges

I would say somewhere local where the is not much lights so you can look at the sky,

Personally the most intriguing thing I've seen is just birds and stars that very faint and made patterns with them.

https://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/discover/dark-skies/festivals-events-and-activities

Isles of Scilly? Train to Penzance and then ferry but it’s a bit of an endeavour. There is an observatory on St Martin’s.
https://www.visitislesofscilly.com/explore/nature/dark-skies

I think you'll have to be ready to hike or cycle a fair way from the public transport stop.

I can't suggest any specific sites but I'd have a look at rural parts East Anglia. The problem with Wales and Scotland is they're dark but often cloudy, East Anglia gives you a better chance of a clear dark sky.

Also assuming summer holidays, it's better to go later in August. You don't get much true darkness in early summer, and none at all from mid May to mid July, but towards the end of Aug it gets properly dark about 10 to 1030 pm. (Depends a bit where you are).

The Kielder Observatory in the Kielder forest puts on all sorts of stargazing events. There are also plenty of hotels and B&Bs in the area, they might be able to help you arrange transport, eg car & driver to collect you from a station.

More thoughts...
Have a look at astronomy/astronomical clubs and societies with a junior section, in your area, they may well organise interesting trips including transport.

If you are within striking distance of Liverpool, the museum in William Brown Street has a Planetarium, which would be a great day out for a ten year old.

Google for glamping with geodome accommodation - then you get to see the sky from your cosy warm bed.

Thank you all so much. Am going to look into all these suggestions, really helpful!

Jodrell bank
Interesting daytime place to visit
I believe they have festival there too
Instructions about getting there by train on website

https://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/planetarium-shows

Look up when there are meteor showers due at certain times of the year to see shooting stars. Although it is not guaranteed if there are clouds

Hire a small sleep on boat on the Norfolk Broads plenty of places to moor up away from light pollution or a canal boat

Have a look at your local university possibly some free lectures or clubs to join

Or look your local Facebook astronomy groups

https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/tracking_map.cfm

Track space station

There are variou free star spotting mobile phone apps too

Free activity packs here

https://www.britishscienceweek.org/

Also look at Seti

I love this idea. Am in Wales at the moment, but it's a bit cloudy.

Did you go?