Dark Skies Festival – North York Moors
Dark Skies Festival 9 February – 25 February 2024
We’re delighted to be showcasing our ninth Dark Skies Festival – full of activities and opportunities to appreciate the wonders of the night sky.
The North York Moors is one of only 21 locations in the world to be recognised for pristine, dark skies. We’re an International Dark Sky Reserve, awarded by DarkSky (formerly International Dark-Sky Association).
This two week long festival has an events programme jam packed full of exciting after dark adventures for the full family to explore. So, get prepared for the wonders of what’s to come in our ninth Dark Skies Festival, taking place in February 2024…
So, what are you waiting for? Tis the season to look up and marvel at the thousands of sparkles in the sky. There’s stay and gaze packages to spend a night under the stars, all manners of night walks, stargazing aplenty, daytime adventures and craft activities, bat-box making, mindful experiences and much more. See our exciting programme below.
Extend your visit and book dark skies friendly accommodation so you can explore during the daytime too!
Winter Owl Evening
27th Jan 2024 7:00 pm – 9:45 pm
Wrap up warm and join us for a magical “must-do” evening event with the world’s most famous nocturnal birds! Winter Owl Evenings are a great idea for an evening out…
Festival Stars under Dark Skies
2nd Feb 2024 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
The North York Moors famous Dark Sky Festival begins on the 9 Feb, but Richard Darn is offering a sneak preview! With no moon in the sky we’ll see more…
Stargazing in Dalby Forest
9th Feb 2024 – 25th Feb 2024
Join Astro Dog for a magical evening of stargazing in Dalby Forest.
Astro Dog offer exciting, interactive, stargazing sessions in the enchanting setting of Dalby Forest. Dalby Forest is a designated…
Dark Skies & Warm Fires Weekend
9th Feb 2024 2:00 pm – 11th Feb 2024 11:00 am
Book this weekend long stargazing extravaganza at the Fox & Hounds this Dark Skies Festival! This package includes a two-nights dinner, bed and breakfast stay amongst the stars at a…
Dark Skies Festival Accommodation
9th Feb 2024 3:00 pm – 19th Feb 2024 11:00 am
Seafern Cottage garden is perfect for stargazing and we provide garden chairs and blankets for use on the patio between 9 – 19 February 2024.
Guests have access…
Star Gazing at Alum House Luxury B&B
9th Feb 2024 4:00 pm – 25th Feb 2024 11:00 am
Book your starry stay at Alum House Luxury B&B this Dark Skies Festival!
Guest rooms are equipped with loungers, blankets, pillows, binoculars, hot chocolate and additional Dark…
Dark Skies – Walking in Heartbeat Country
9th Feb 2024 5:30 pm
Surrounded by high moors and interlaced with cascading streams and waterfalls, Heartbeat Country is a walker’s paradise. You will experience the Mallyan Spout Waterfall, which at over 60 feet, is…
Eat under the Stars at Carr House Farm
9th Feb 2024 6:00 pm – 25th Feb 2024 9:30 pm
Dine under the stars at Carr House Farm this Dark Skies Festival.
Enjoy a three course meal under the stars, either outdoors or indoors looking up through our rooms…
Terrington Stargaze – Dark Sky Festival 2024
9th Feb 2024 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Join us for an exciting stargazing evening near the beautiful village of Terrington. It’s being hosted by Birkdale Farm as part of a new dark skies project by the Howardian…
Starry Nights Watercolour Workshop
10th Feb 2024 10:00 am – 1:30 pm
Join artist Ione Harrison for a Dark Skies watercolour painting workshop to celebrate and explore a starry, starry night. This watercolour workshop is suitable for all levels, from absolute beginners…
Robin Hood’s Bay Dark Skies walk; a smugglers paradise
10th Feb 2024 5:30 pm
This coastal walk starts and finishes in Robin Hoods Bay the busiest smuggling community on the Yorkshire coastline during the 18th century. With countless tales of thieves, rogues and smugglers,…
Dark Skies Experience at Sutton Bank
10th Feb 2024 6:45 pm – 9:45 pm
Takes your eyes to the skies at Sutton Bank National Park Centre with Large Outdoors’ range of telescopes and a stargazing guide!
Join Large Outdoors in the North York…
Whitby Night Photography Workshop
10th Feb 2024 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Do you fancy trying your hand at photographing something different during the North York Moors Dark Skies Festival? If so, then why not join local landscape photographer Richard Burdon and…
Nocturnal Adventure with Forest Holidays
11th Feb 2024 6:45 pm – 7:30 pm
Explore the woodland surrounding you at nightfall and discover the magic of the of the forest as it comes to life this Dark Skies Festival. A Forest Ranger will guide…
Dark Skies Experience at Sutton Bank
11th Feb 2024 6:45 pm – 9:45 pm
Takes your eyes to the skies at Sutton Bank National Park Centre with Large Outdoors’ range of telescopes and a stargazing guide!
Join Large Outdoors in the North York…
Dark Skies Experience at Sutton Bank
15th Feb 2024 6:45 pm – 9:45 pm
Takes your eyes to the skies at Sutton Bank National Park Centre with Large Outdoors’ range of telescopes and a stargazing guide!
Join Large Outdoors in the North York…
Sutton Bank Dark Skies walk; the White Horse Circuit
16th Feb 2024 5:30 pm
Once described by James Herriot as the finest view in England, what better place to start your dark skies adventure. Heading off across Roulston Scar, where ancient tribes dating back…
Whitby Night Photography Workshop
17th Feb 2024 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Do you fancy trying your hand at photographing something different during the North York Moors Dark Skies Festival? If so, then why not join local landscape photographer Richard Burdon and…
Festival Stars and a Stunning Moon
17th Feb 2024 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
As part of the North York Moors Dark Sky Festival we are spending a night on the moon! You will be amazed by how much we can see on the…
Evening Adventure Walk
20th Feb 2024 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm
To coincide with the North York Moors National Park “Dark Skies Festival“, come with us on an evening adventure walk to see the moors at night. Starting from the car…
The Cistercian Dark Skies Walk
21st Feb 2024 5:30 pm
This is a 7 mile circular walk linking ancient monuments set within the beautiful North York Moors. Starting in the charming Yorkshire market town of Helmsley we head off through…
Starry Nights Watercolour Workshop
22nd Feb 2024 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Join artist Ione Harrison for a Dark Skies watercolour painting workshop to celebrate and explore a starry, starry night. This watercolour workshop is suitable for all levels, from absolute beginners…
Evening Adventure Walk
22nd Feb 2024 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm
To coincide with the North York Moors National Park “Dark Skies Festival“, come with us on an evening adventure walk to see the moors at night. Starting from the car…
Robin Hood’s Bay Dark Skies walk; a smugglers paradise
23rd Feb 2024 5:30 pm
This coastal walk starts and finishes in Robin Hoods Bay the busiest smuggling community on the Yorkshire coastline during the 18th century. With countless tales of thieves, rogues and smugglers,…
Magical Moonlight Coastal Walk
23rd Feb 2024 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Come and join Adventures for the Soul and AFS Mountaineering for a magical, moonlight, night experience that is so much more than a walk.
Feel wonder and awe as…
Hole of Horcum Dark Skies walk
24th Feb 2024 5:30 pm
The Hole of Horcum also known as the Devil’s Punchbowl is a spectacular natural amphitheatre scooped out of Levisham Moor. Legend says that the hole was formed when the giant…
Magical Moonlit Meander- full moon experience for women
24th Feb 2024 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Join Adventures for the Soul for a magical moonlit night experience for women. This will be a wonderful opportunity to switch off, slow down and take time out for you….
