Stargazing in the Yorkshire Dales – A Beginner’s Guide at Ashes Farm
- jillcrowson66
- 6 hours ago
- 5 min read
Stargazing is one of the most magical experiences you can have in the countryside – and the Yorkshire Dales is officially one of the best places in the UK to do it.
At Ashes Farm, we’re lucky to be located within a registered Dark Sky Reserve, meaning our skies are naturally darker, clearer, and free from most light pollution. For our guests, that means stepping outside on a clear night and seeing thousands of stars, bright constellations, planets, and even the Milky Way with the naked eye.
Whether you’re a complete beginner or just curious about the night sky, this guide will help you get started.
Why the Yorkshire Dales Is Perfect for Stargazing
The Yorkshire Dales is recognised as a Dark Sky Friendly area because of:
Very low light pollution
High elevation and clean air
Open landscapes with wide horizons
Careful control of artificial lighting
In towns and cities, you may only see 20–30 stars. In truly dark locations like Ashes Farm, you can see thousands, along with subtle details like star colours, star clusters, and the glowing band of the Milky Way.
This is what makes stargazing in the Yorkshire Dales so special – you are seeing the sky as it was meant to be seen.
What You Need for Stargazing (and What You Don’t)
One of the best things about stargazing is how simple it is.
You need:
Warm clothing
Something comfortable to sit or lie on
Patience and time
Your eyes
You don’t need:
A telescope
Any expert knowledge
Expensive equipment
In fact, beginners often enjoy stargazing more without a telescope, because the naked eye gives you a wide view of the whole sky.
The Night Sky Works Like a Map
The night sky works just like a map of the UK – direction matters.
Stars rise in the east
Set in the west
Rotate through the night
Change with the seasons
Once you start thinking of the sky in terms of north, south, east and west, everything becomes much easier to understand.
Finding North – The Plough and the Pole Star
The easiest way to orient yourself is by finding The Plough, one of the most recognisable star patterns in the UK.
The Plough is part of a larger constellation called Ursa Major (The Great Bear) and is visible all year round.
To find the Pole Star (Polaris):
Locate the two outer stars of the Plough’s bowl
Draw an imaginary line through them
The first bright star you reach is Polaris
The Pole Star marks true north and hardly moves in the sky at all.
How to find the North Star , Polaris from the Plough and Ursa MinorThe Zenith and the Meridian
The zenith is the point in the sky directly above your head.
The meridian is an imaginary line running from north to south through the zenith, dividing the sky in half. Astronomers use it to describe where objects are and when they are at their highest point in the sky.
These reference points help turn the sky into something structured instead of overwhelming.
The Ecliptic – The Sun’s Path Across the Sky
The ecliptic is one of the most important ideas in astronomy.
It is the imaginary line that shows the path the Sun takes across the sky during the year. Because all the planets orbit the Sun in roughly the same flat plane as Earth, they also appear close to this same line.
That’s why:
Planets are always found near the same band of sky
The Moon follows a similar path
Bright non-twinkling “stars” are often planets
The Zodiac – The Animal Circle of the Sky
The zodiac is a group of constellations that sit along the ecliptic.
The word zodiac comes from a Greek term meaning “circle of animals”, and this system dates back to at least the 5th century.
The zodiac:
Is divided into 12 equal sections
Always appears in the same order
Changes visibility with the seasons
You never see all 12 at once. Which ones are visible depends on the time of year, making the zodiac a kind of celestial calendar.
The Milky Way – Our Home Galaxy
The Milky Way is our home galaxy, containing hundreds of billions of stars, including our own Sun.
From dark locations like Ashes Farm, it appears as a faint glowing band or cloudy river of light stretching across the sky. You are actually looking into the flat disk of your own galaxy from the inside.
In places with heavy light pollution, the Milky Way is invisible. In the Yorkshire Dales, it can be one of the most unforgettable sights you’ll ever see.
How to Find Constellations
There are several simple methods:
1. Join the dots
Look for patterns and shapes.
2. Star-hopping
Start with one constellation you know and follow lines of stars to find others.
3. Decode your own shapes
Spot a pattern you like, then look it up later.
There is no “right” way – constellations are human-made patterns designed to help us navigate the sky.
Useful Stargazing Apps
Free apps can be very helpful for beginners:
Recommended:
Star Walk 2 (easy to use, great visuals)
Stellarium Mobile
SkySafari
These apps let you:
Show just stars
Add constellation lines
Overlay full images
Receive notifications about sky events
Your device needs a built-in compass to work properly.
Stargazing at Ashes Farm
At Ashes Farm, stargazing is not an activity you need to plan – it’s simply part of staying here.
Step outside your accommodation on a clear night and you can experience:
True dark skies
The Milky Way
Constellations with the naked eye
Planets, satellites, and shooting stars
No crowds. No traffic noise. Just open skies and silence.
The Yorkshire Dales Dark Skies Festival
Twice a year, the Yorkshire Dales hosts the Dark Skies Festival, a celebration of everything night sky related.
The festival usually takes place:
Once in winter (around February)
Once in autumn (around October)
During the festival, the area offers:
Guided stargazing events
Astronomy talks and workshops
Night sky photography sessions
Family-friendly activities
Planetarium experiences in local venues
It’s designed to help people of all ages discover the night sky, learn how to stargaze, and understand why protecting dark skies is so important.
Staying at Ashes Farm during the Dark Skies Festival is an ideal way to experience it. You can enjoy organised events during the evening and still return to genuine darkness right outside your accommodation, where you can practise what you’ve learned under real skies.
For many guests, the festival becomes the moment they truly fall in love with stargazing – because it combines expert guidance with one of the best natural dark sky locations in the UK.
“Book for the Dark Skies Festival and stay somewhere you can actually see the stars.” - Cloud permitting!!
Here in the Yorkshire Dales, we’re incredibly lucky to still have real darkness – and at Ashes Farm, it’s right on your doorstep.
Sometimes the best part of your holiday isn’t what you do during the day…It’s what you see when the lights go out 🌌
Comments