Star Gazing in Cumbria

Discover the Magic of the Dark Skies Festival with Rowley Estates

As the nights draw in and autumn paints the fells in russet and gold, Cumbria reveals one of its most beautiful secrets — its incredible night skies. Each year, from late October through November, the Cumbria Dark Skies Festival celebrates this natural wonder, inviting visitors to look up, slow down, and reconnect.

If you’re staying with Rowley Estates, you’re already in one of the UK’s best locations for stargazing — far from the glow of cities, surrounded by peaceful countryside, and with some of the clearest, darkest skies in England. And the best part? You don’t need to be an astronomer or own a telescope to experience awe.

 Cumbria Has Some of the Darkest Skies in the UK

Thanks to its low light pollution, wide open valleys, and remote fells, Cumbria offers skies so dark you can see over 2,000 stars with the naked eye on a clear night — compared to only a few dozen in most urban areas.

Locations like the Eden Valley, Lake District National Park, and the North Pennines AONB (all within easy reach of The Rowley Estates) are official Dark Sky Discovery Sites, where even the Milky Way is visible as a silvery ribbon across the heavens.

When you step outside after sunset, you’re standing in one of the few places left in England where natural darkness still reigns — a rare, restorative experience.

What You Can See Right Now — Autumn & Early Winter Skies in Cumbria

Even without specialist gear, this time of year (October–November) offers spectacular celestial sights:

With the naked eye:

• The Milky Way stretches across the southern sky — a soft band of starlight best seen from darker rural areas around the Eden Valley and Ullswater.

• Constellations like Orion the Hunter, Cassiopeia, and the Great Bear (Ursa Major) are easy to spot.

• Planets such as Jupiter and Saturn shine brightly this season — you can often see them low in the southern sky just after dusk.

• Shooting stars (meteors) are not uncommon in November, especially around the Leonid Meteor Shower (peaking around 17–18 November).

With binoculars:

You don’t need a telescope — a simple pair of 8×42 or 10×50 binoculars can open up a whole new universe:

• Focus on the Pleiades (Seven Sisters) — a stunning open cluster of blue-white stars visible in the east.

• Look at Jupiter — you’ll glimpse its four largest moons (tiny points of light lined up alongside it).

• The Andromeda Galaxy (our nearest galactic neighbour, 2.5 million light years away) appears as a faint oval haze just above the constellation Andromeda.

• Sweep along the Milky Way’s band to see dense star fields and perhaps a glimpse of the Double Cluster near Perseus.

These are sights that city skies simply can’t offer — and you can experience them right from your doorstep at Rowley Estates.

A Chance to See the Aurora Borealis — The Northern Lights in Cumbria

2025 is a solar maximum year, meaning the Sun is at the most active stage of its 11-year cycle. This dramatically increases the chances of seeing the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) across northern parts of the UK — including here in Cumbria.

On rare but spectacular nights, the aurora can appear as shimmering curtains or rippling waves of green, pink, or violet light dancing on the northern horizon. Even faint displays, seen as soft glows of colour, are unforgettable.

To maximise your chances:

• Look north on clear, dark nights, especially when solar activity is high (follow alerts via apps like AuroraWatch UK).

• Stay away from light pollution, ideally in open countryside around the Eden Valley.

• Be patient — auroras can fade and return suddenly, so give yourself at least an hour outdoors.

If conditions align, guests at Rowley Estates could witness one of the most awe-inspiring natural phenomena on Earth — right from the garden of your cottage.

You Don’t Have to Be an Expert

One of the joys of stargazing here is its simplicity. There’s no need for complex equipment or astrophysics knowledge.
Just step outside after dark, let your eyes adjust for 20 minutes, and take in the spectacle. The longer you look, the more detail appears.

A few simple tips:

• Check the weather forecast and aim for a clear, moonless night.

• Bring a blanket or reclining chair, and wrap up warm — clear nights are often the coldest.

• Use a red torch or dim phone light to preserve your night vision.

• Download a stargazing app like SkyView or Star Walk 2 to help identify constellations.

For families or beginners, the Cumbria Dark Skies Festival also hosts guided walks, storytelling evenings, night-photography sessions and expert-led telescope viewings — perfect for learning while enjoying the beauty of the landscape after dark.  We are happy to help out with recommendations regarding night sky photography experiences including those led by our friends Jason Hudson and Paula Mould of Wildlife Hides and Photography.

Stargazing Stays at Rowley Estates

Our historic cottages and manor houses are located in some of the quietest corners of the Lake District and Eden Valley, offering truly dark skies right outside your window.

Whether you’re relaxing in a private garden, soaking in an outdoor hot tub, or stepping onto a fell-side terrace, you’ll have a front-row seat to the cosmos.  Imagine ending your evening beside a roaring log fire — and then stepping outside to see the Milky Way arching overhead.

It’s the kind of experience that makes a stay in Cumbria unforgettable.

Experience the Dark Skies for Yourself

The Cumbria Dark Skies Festival (24 October – 21 November 2025) is the perfect time to explore this magical side of the Lake District. You don’t need to travel far to find the stars — just look up!