Dark skies short break by public transport

MikeJXE

I went to a dark sky site near Peterborough last summer, arrived 10pm and left at 2pm very disappointed 

My first and only view of an incredible sky was 1962

Camping in Fontaineblue Forest near Paris 

Went to the loo in the middle of the night and I couldn't believe what I saw, words can’t describe it, no words could do it justice 

I doubt there is anywhere in England anywhere near that good 

Hoenir

tealady said:

Hoenir said:

Where do you live? 

I'm near Wolverhampton.

Then you are not far away from the Tenbury Wells area.  There's great dark skies in that area. Accessible by buses as well. 

jimbo6977

Might be worth contacting https://www.wolvas.org.uk/ who organise dark skies outings to Shropshire and Mid Wales. 

RAS

I don't know to what extent you are prepared to travel, whether you want an organised break or are prepared to put together your own journey?

I'm often amazed at how easy it is to walk half a mile from my lodging and find myself somewhere where there is very little light pollution.

Say walking from Grinton Youth Hostel round to Cogden Gill. Pick up the community bus in Richmond, which means getting a train to Northallerton by 13.00 for the bus to Richmond, or wending your way north from Ripon 36/159. Or head up the dale to Muker, Thwaite, Angram or Keld, but ensure you notify the bus earlier in the day.

There are buses to Buckden in Wharfedale, with both the George Inn at Hubberholme and a B&B on route. Both would need a short stroll up the river side road to get away from the limited local lighting. Rail access from Skipton where there are connecting buses to Grassington.

On the Settle-Carlisle line, Ribblehead has an adjacent Inn and Garsdale has a bus service into Hawes that stops at the Moorcook which is now a B&B. There may be others on route.

These might be ones where you can watch the forecast and see if they have availability?

twopenny

What about the Scilly Isles for a short holiday?

They don't have the light poloution and a short walk should give you a dark sky.

Or somewhere like Oban in Scotland. Fly to Glasgow and train to Oban. Lots of local tours or ferry to one of the tiny islands

tealady

Thanks, some great suggestions there

minilo

Some ideas / thoughts...
- Go Stargazing do regular events and their website has a location search feature for star gazing sites. I did a quick search and there are loads nearby. You can check out their website and follow their facebook page for more details.

- Useful phone apps to help with planning and during dark sky experience.

  o Scope Nights - Light pollution map to help identify locations + weather forecasting by date/time to help identify optimal times for star gazing

  o Home & Dry (available for iPhones) - Weather

  o Clear outside - Weather

  o Stellarium - Identifying items of interest in the night sky for specific locations and date/times with option of real-time views using augmented reality

- Things which may help facilitate night vision during dark sky experience.

  o Red light torch

  o Changing phone display settings to reduce white light / brightness

    E.g. on iPhone Go to Settings > Accessibilty > Screen and text size > Color filters > Yes > Red

- Locations for trips accessible via public transport. I asked ChatGPT and it gave the response below:

"While Wolverhampton isn't in direct proximity to the UK's prime Dark Sky Parks, there are a few accessible locations by public transport where you can enjoy stargazing, albeit with some travel involved.

### 1. *Birmingham (Lickey Hills Country Park)*

   - *Distance*: About 15 miles from Wolverhampton, around a 30-minute train ride.

   - *Dark Sky Rating*: Moderate light pollution, but still a good spot for stargazing compared to urban areas.

   - *Transport*: You can take a train from Wolverhampton to Birmingham New Street (about 20 minutes), then switch to a local train or bus (No. 44 or 45) to reach Lickey Hills.

   - *About*: While not officially a Dark Sky Park, Lickey Hills offers relatively clear skies and is a short, accessible journey.

### 2. *Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)*

   - *Distance*: About 35 miles, typically a 1-1.5 hour journey from Wolverhampton.

   - *Dark Sky Rating*: Designated as a Dark Sky Landscape, especially around places like Clun and Long Mynd.

   - *Transport*: You can take a train from Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury (around 30-40 minutes), and then connect to local bus services (e.g., from Shrewsbury, buses to Church Stretton or Clun).

   - *About*: The Shropshire Hills are a recognized dark sky location and offer some of the best stargazing opportunities in the region, with minimal light pollution.

### 3. *Northumberland National Park*

   - *Distance*: This would require more extensive travel, but it’s one of the darkest skies in the UK.

   - *Dark Sky Rating*: Officially a Dark Sky Park, with excellent stargazing conditions.

   - *Transport*: It’s a 3-hour journey by train to Newcastle, and then a bus to the park (e.g., the AD122 bus from Hexham to various points in the park).

   - *About*: If you're planning a longer trip, Northumberland National Park is one of the best Dark Sky Parks in the UK. Although not the most accessible for a day trip, it’s an option for a weekend getaway.

### 4. *Peak District (specifically, Derwent Valley)*

   - *Distance*: About 50 miles, around 1-1.5 hours by train.

   - *Dark Sky Rating*: The Peak District has several designated areas with low light pollution, especially around Derwent Valley and parts of the High Peak.

   - *Transport*: Take a train from Wolverhampton to Sheffield (about 50 minutes), then switch to a local bus or train to the Peak District.

   - *About*: The Peak District, particularly around the Derwent Valley, provides dark skies with relatively easy access by public transport from Wolverhampton.

### Tips for Stargazing:

- Always check the weather forecast for clear skies, and try to avoid nights close to a full moon for the best stargazing experience.

- Consider using stargazing apps (e.g., Star Walk, SkySafari) to help spot constellations and celestial events when you're there.

These locations offer a combination of scenic beauty and relatively dark skies, with varying levels of accessibility from Wolverhampton by train and bus. For truly pristine dark skies, however, Shropshire Hills and the Peak District are your best bets."

Eldi_Dos

MikeJXE said:

Went to the loo in the middle of the night and I couldn't believe what I saw, words can’t describe it, no words could do it justice

Fortunately things have moved on since then,the hole in the floor style is no longer de rigueur.

tealady

Eldi_Dos said:

MikeJXE said:

Went to the loo in the middle of the night and I couldn't believe what I saw, words can’t describe it, no words could do it justice

Fortunately things have moved on since then,the hole in the floor style is no longer de rigueur.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 thanks everyone for the info (and the laughs)

MoonBrain01

You could ask your local astronomical society and see if they can recommend a location accessible by public transport or have any events you can join.
https://www.wolvas.org.uk/