{"id":43873,"date":"2023-04-18T14:13:18","date_gmt":"2023-04-18T14:13:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=43873"},"modified":"2023-04-27T14:54:11","modified_gmt":"2023-04-27T14:54:11","slug":"darkness-on-the-moors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/2023\/04\/18\/darkness-on-the-moors\/","title":{"rendered":"Darkness on the moors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
The Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks both recently became International Dark Sky Reserves<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Darkness on the moors<\/h2>\n\n

In search of true darkness and skies that sparkle, Jamie Carter <\/strong>visits Yorkshire, home of the UK\u2019s newest International Dark Sky Reserves <\/p>\n\n

Tonight there\u2019s mist on the way to the moors. It creeps through the valley and blots out everything but Venus. But as the minibus climbs up the Sutton Bank escarpment, it begins to clear. By the time we arrive at the North York Moors International Dark Sky Reserve, we\u2019re high above the valley mist among heather moorland, low shrubs and stumpy trees. Above us is a big sky with only thin wisps of cloud between the bright stars. The open clusters within Auriga are naked-eye bright and so are the faint suns of Gemini, Taurus and Ursa Minor, all now so elusive from our towns and cities. <\/p>\n\n

\u201cDoes anyone know, what is the furthest thing it\u2019s possible to see with the naked eye?\u201d says astronomer Richard Darn, our host for the evening. \u201cThe Moon?\u201d says a voice from the dark. \u201cA nebula?\u201d asks another. The Andromeda Galaxy, 2.5 million lightyears from Earth, is soon picked out with a green laser. It\u2019s waiting in the crosshairs of a Takahashi refractor for all to inspect. It\u2019s an exciting moment for many. In its wake comes the equally crowd-pleasing Pleiades, the Orion Nebula, the M81 and M82 galaxies, double star Almach, and a waning comet, C\/2022 E3. The views are delivered crisply and quickly, but some guests seem happy just to stare at a \u2018blanket of stars\u2019 they\u2019ve heard much about but rarely seen.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Nightseeing trip <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

This is a crowd mostly taking their first steps in navigating the night sky and they\u2019ve come from all over the UK \u2013 from Liverpool, Essex, Bournemouth and Cardiff \u2013 for the first of the North York Moors\u2019 two annual Dark Skies Festivals. This particular event during the festival is organised by The Grand Hotel in nearby York as a \u2018dark skies package\u2019 that includes dinner, stargazing and breakfast. Oh, and a flask of hot chocolate to take up to Sutton Bank\u2019s Star Hub, a purpose-built stargazing facility with a tastefully red-lit courtyard for telescopes and an indoor area to warm up. This is amateur (g)astronomy at its best.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s so much demand for these events now,\u201d Darn says to me as we pack away the telescopes and binoculars later. \u201cI love doing them. People have travelled from so far to be here and for many of them it\u2019s such an adventure just to walk out into a dark night.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

\"\"
The Northern Lights put on a show over Sandsend, north of Whitby, on the North York Moors coast<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

It helps that the North York Moors is one of the driest upland areas in the UK, which frequently means clear skies. Although it\u2019s one of three Milky Way-class Dark Sky Discovery Sites in the North York Moors, Sutton Bank isn\u2019t in the darkest \u2018core zone\u2019 in the national park. That\u2019s not really the point of events like these. \u201cFor most people here tonight, this is the darkest sky they\u2019ve ever seen and I think that\u2019s really important \u2013 it\u2019s about accessibility,\u201d says Darn. <\/p>\n\n

The skies have been getting darker in this part of the north of England for a few years. Both the North York Moors National Park and the nearby Yorkshire Dales National Park became International Dark Sky Reserves in December 2020 and, at 3,615 square kilometres, together form the largest region of protected night skies in the UK. The parks\u2019 light pollution readings are as low as 21.6 and 21.7 on the Bortle scale, respectively. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t a joint application, just a simultaneous designation, but we work really closely together both on the applications and on our Dark Skies Festivals,\u201d says Mike Hawtin, dark skies officer at the North York Moors National Park. <\/p>\n\n

Locals help fight the light <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Such is the rampant march of light pollution that getting and keeping Dark Sky status is not easy. The applications to the International Dark-Sky Association took about three years. \u201cWe had to monitor light levels at over 100 different sites and submit our dark skies readings \u2013 and we must do an annual report to prove that our skies continue to be dark,\u201d says Hannah Kay, dark sky project manager at the adjacent Yorkshire Dales National Park. Grants are available for local businesses and farms in both parks to install dark-sky-friendly lighting. The message to residents and visiting stargazers alike is simple, but can make a huge difference to keeping the skies dark: \u201cHave your lighting pointed down, use timers, use motion-sensor lighting where possible, and use warm colours,\u201d says Kay. <\/p>\n\n

\"\"
The Milky Way over Young Ralph Cross atop the remote Blakey Ridge, North York Moors <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

At its heart, the dark-sky designation is about taking practical steps to stop developments that have very poor lighting. It\u2019s an easier sell than you might think. \u201cI\u2019ve done 100 site visits and presentations to parish councils, farmers\u2019 groups and landowners. I\u2019ve had zero pushback,\u201d says Hawtin. \u201cI just explain that it\u2019s not about banning all light, but using it sensitively, responsibly and sympathetically.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

Both parks have targeted their darkest \u2018core zones\u2019 first because that\u2019s where new dark-sky-friendly lighting can make the most difference. However, there\u2019s also a dark-sky-friendly business scheme that incentivises local people to keep the lights down low. \u201cAbout 30 local businesses have signed up and can specifically promote themselves as dark-sky-friendly,\u201d says Kay. \u201cSo if it\u2019s a bed and breakfast it will have dark-sky-friendly lighting, telescopes, binoculars and blankets.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Another pillar of any park\u2019s dark-sky status is outreach, something both of these regions excel in. The North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales both host some of the UK\u2019s largest and most successful dark-sky festivals. Staged in the same weeks each February and October \u2013 the next will be the Dark Skies Fringe Festival, from 27 October to 5 November \u2013 they include so much more than stargazing, including runs, zip wires, kayaking and biking at night to astrophotography workshops, stargazing safaris and night walks. In 2022, there were 44 different events involving over 2,400 people. \u201cWe\u2019ve had events where people go out running on the moors or cycling in the dark and they\u2019re often attended by people who don\u2019t usually get to see such dark skies,\u201d says Kay. \u201cWe reach out to people to come and see our dark skies because it\u2019s something they will never see if they live in Leeds or Bradford.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

\"\"
Astronomer Richard Darn under the Star Hub\u2019s red lights, designed to boost visitors\u2019 night vision <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Businesses get on board <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

The success of the festivals and dark-sky status is beginning to nurture an emerging dark-sky economy. \u201cWe initially started holding our events at Dalby Forest during October 2022\u2019s Dark Skies Fringe Festival,\u201d says Nicole Carr at AstroDog, a small astronomy and astrophotography business based on the Yorkshire coast run by Nicole, partner Simon Scott \u2013 and their dog Luna. \u201cThey were very popular and we welcomed many wonderful guests to our stargazing hub in Dalby to gaze at and learn about the night sky.\u201d AstroDog now holds events almost every night throughout the festivals, as well as throughout the year.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
A few dark-sky-friendly measures help cut the glare from this inn near the famous Ribblehead Viaduct <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

Yorkshire might be having its own dark skies moment, but those behind it want more than just protected skies within national park boundaries. \u201cI don\u2019t like the idea that if you want to see the stars you have to go into these designated areas, yet everywhere else you\u2019re free to do whatever you like with light,\u201d says Darn. \u201cNational parks are not an excuse for everywhere else to be overwhelmed by light pollution \u2013 they are a model that proves that reducing it everywhere is not rocket science.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n

The North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales must and do engage with surrounding authorities in an effort to keep their dark-sky status. \u201cIf we allow development around us to go unchecked then that shrinks our patch,\u201d says Hawtin. The classic example is the Peak District National Park, which is surrounded by Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield and would struggle to get any kind of dark-sky status. <\/p>\n\n

Is it too late for them and all the UK\u2019s urban areas? \u201cYou could say that it\u2019s a lost battle in towns and cities, but there is one thing about light pollution that keeps me optimistic,\u201d says Hawtin. \u201cIt\u2019s all solvable at the flick of a switch.\u201d <\/p>\n\n

<\/div>
\n

Stargazing in the Moors and Dales of Yorkshire <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Both parks offer a wealth of places to enjoy the wonders of the night sky <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
First-class views of Orion from the Star Hub at Sutton Bank, North York Moors <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There are several Dark Sky Discovery Sites throughout the two parks which offer not only a place to get away from light pollution, but also good sightlines and public access. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For an excellent photo opportunity, several spots have wonderful foregrounds to offset your skyscapes. The coast along the North York Moors has clear views of the northern horizon and occasionally the Northern Lights. Byland and Rievaulx Abbey offer beautiful foregrounds, while the fish pond outside Newburgh Priory is a great location for reflections shots. The Dales, meanwhile, are home to Ribblehead Viaduct, an iconic 24-arch Victorian structure that can be photographed with the Milky Way behind it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the darkest skies, however, aim for the core zone in the heart of each park. Finally, just outside the parks are more Dark Sky Discovery Sites in two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty: five in Lancashire\u2019s Forest of Bowland (three shown below) and four in Nidderdale. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n
\"\"
\u201cStar followed star through boundless regions\u201d as local Emily Bront\u00eb wrote of the pristine skies above the moors <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
<\/div>
\n

Where to stay under Yorkshire\u2019s dark skies <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Whatever your budget, there\u2019s somewhere to suit your stargazing needs <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
The Grand Hotel, York <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

This luxury hotel in York hosts Dark Skies Experience packages in autumn and winter, including dinner, a two-hour stargazing session and a one-night stay with breakfast. \u00a3405 for two\/\u00a3315 for one. www.thegrandyork.co.uk<\/a> <\/strong>\u2022 01904 380038<\/strong> \u2022 <\/span>yourstay@thegrandyork.co.uk<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Easterside Farm B&B, Hawnby <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Just outside the village of Hawnby in the North York Moors National Park, this is a 15-minute drive from the Star Hub at Sutton Bank and an ideal base for your stargazing trip. \u00a3110 per night. www.eastersidefarm.co.uk<\/a> <\/strong>\u2022 01439 798277 <\/strong>\u2022 info@eastersidefarm.co.uk <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Fox and Hounds Inn, Ainthorpe<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Torches, binoculars and night-sky maps are on hand at this 16th-century inn in the North York Moors National Park with a traditional pub atmosphere. B&B rooms (\u00a3109) or insulated glamping pods (\u00a369). www.foxandhoundsainthorpe.com<\/a> <\/strong>\u2022 01287 660218 <\/strong>\u2022 info@foxandhoundsainthorpe.com <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
West Cawthorne cabins, Pickering <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Stylish self-catering A-frame cabins with decks high on a hill within a re-wilded landscape in the North York Moors National Park, with binoculars provided. There\u2019s a two-night minimum stay (\u00a3320). www.northyorkshirehideaways.com<\/a> <\/strong>\u2022 info@westcawthorne.com <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Old Dairy B&B, Richmond<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

This B&B is run by keen astronomer Paul Clark, who happily gives advice to guests. Located in tiny Low Row, it boasts some of the darkest skies in the Yorkshire Dales National Park (\u00a3105 per night). airbnb.com\/h\/olddairylowrow<\/a> <\/strong>\u2022 olddairylowrow@gmail.com <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Nethergill Farm, Oughtershaw <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

This eco-farm in the Yorkshire Dales National Park is perfect for stargazing and birdwatching, including a field centre with telescopes and binoculars. Self-catering for four people (\u00a3480 for three nights). www.nethergill.co.uk<\/a> <\/strong>\u2022 01756 380581 <\/strong>\u2022 info@nethergill.co.uk <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

Jamie Carter <\/strong>is a science and astronomy writer and author of A Stargazing Program for Beginners: A Pocket Field Guide <\/em><\/p>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

PHOTOS: TONY MARSH, STEVE BELL, JAMIE CARTER, MAP: PAUL WOOTTON, RUSS NORMAN PHOTOGRAPHY, STEVE BELL, NORTH YORK MOORS AND YORKSHIRE DALES NATIONAL PARKS, THE GRAND\/ YORK HOTE, EASTERSIDE FARM B&B, FOX AND HOUNDS, WEST CAWTHORNE CABINS, OLD DAIRY B&B, NETHERGILL FARM<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We visit Yorkshire, home of the UK\u2019s newest International Dark Sky Reserves <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":43862,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","purple_page_number":"60","purple_custom_meta_purple_page_number":"60","purple_seq_number":"1","purple_custom_meta_purple_seq_number":"1","purple_source_article":"article_60-1.xml","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_article":"article_60-1.xml","purple_source_issue":"May-2023","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_issue":"May-2023","purple_external_id":"May-2023-60-1","purple_custom_meta_purple_external_id":"May-2023-60-1","purple_issue_code":"|0000086564||","purple_custom_meta_purple_issue_code":"|0000086564||","purple_android_product":"com.im.skyatnight.216","purple_custom_meta_purple_android_product":"com.im.skyatnight.216","purple_ios_product":"com.im.skyatnight.216","purple_custom_meta_purple_ios_product":"com.im.skyatnight.216","purple_web_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_web_product":"","purple_publication_id":"075fab74-0a21-4201-866a-899d6c41c40c","purple_migrated":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[14],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2023\/04\/631d6014-03d6-4f3b-9eda-c8c7b2119db8.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"11","apple_news_title":""},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2023\/04\/631d6014-03d6-4f3b-9eda-c8c7b2119db8.jpg",2048,1072,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2023\/04\/631d6014-03d6-4f3b-9eda-c8c7b2119db8-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2023\/04\/631d6014-03d6-4f3b-9eda-c8c7b2119db8-300x157.jpg",300,157,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2023\/04\/631d6014-03d6-4f3b-9eda-c8c7b2119db8-768x402.jpg",768,402,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2023\/04\/631d6014-03d6-4f3b-9eda-c8c7b2119db8-1024x536.jpg",800,419,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2023\/04\/631d6014-03d6-4f3b-9eda-c8c7b2119db8-1536x804.jpg",1536,804,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2023\/04\/631d6014-03d6-4f3b-9eda-c8c7b2119db8.jpg",2048,1072,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"We visit Yorkshire, home of the UK\u2019s newest International Dark Sky Reserves","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43873"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43873"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43873\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46489,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43873\/revisions\/46489"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43862"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}