Two Scottish hotspots named in the top 10 best UK stargazing spots
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Much of the UK has discovered breathtakingly beautiful sites right on our doorsteps over recent years, however not all these spots are best observed in the daytime – some are best enjoyed under the cover of darkness.
The UK is home to some of the largest areas of Dark Sky (low light pollution areas) in Europe making it the perfect place to capture the canopy of the stars with the naked eye, but even for those who love to look up into the night sky it can be hard to know what you’re looking at without an expert at hand.
Land Rover has teamed up with astronomer and science communicator, Dr Jenifer Millard, to provide the best 10 best stargazing spots across the UK.
In addition, a small team of Land Rover explorers set off in search of an additional dark skies location in the Scottish Highlands in a convoy of Land Rover Defenders.
One of the Scottish locations to make the top ten was Tomintoul and Glenlivet.
This is the most northernly Dark Sky region of the UK.
Here stargazers can be lucky enough to see the Aurora Borealis (or the Northern Lights as they are more commonly referred to) as well as the Milky Way.
Twice a year, this National Park will also provide a view of the Spring equinox (around 20 March) and Autumn equinox (around 23 September).
That is when the centre of the visible sun is directly above the equator.
Commenting Dr Jenifer Milard said: “Cairngorms Dark Sky Park boasts Gold Tier dark skies.
"Three Dark Sky Discovery Sites are associated with Tomintoul and Glenlivet Dark Sky Park – Glenlivet Blairfindy car park, Tomintoul Field of Hope, and The Carrachs car park.”
Ben Damph Estate on Upper Loch Torridon also made the top ten.
Land Rover UK conducted an exploratory expedition to find the perfect Scottish west coast stargazing spot situated a mere eight miles off-road from the village of Torridon.
Set in 14,500 acres of dramatic highland landscape and nestled on the edge of Upper Loch Torridon, sits the perfect stargazing spot on a clear night.
The team took three Land Rover Defenders along the existing off-road route to the spot which – bereft of trees, and any signs of light pollution – provides a view of the Milky Way and even the possibility of experiencing the aurora borealis should the conditions be right.
The best 10 best stargazing spots in the UK were:
● Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge (Northern Ireland)
● Compton Bay (Isle of Wight)
● Tomintoul and Glenlivet, Cairngorms National Park (Scotland)
● Llynnau Cregennen, Snowdonia National Park (North Wales)
● Dalby Forest, North York Moors National Park (North Yorkshire)
● Usk Reservoir, Brecon Beacons National Park (Wales)
● Porlock Common, Exmoor National Park (Somerset)
● Kielder Observatory and forest (Northumberland)
● Kelling Health Holiday Park (Norfolk)
● Ben Damph Estate on Upper Loch Torridon (Scotland)
Commenting Dr Jennifer Milard said: “It’s worth stargazing all year round because our view of the cosmos slowly changes night-by-night.
"As earth moves around the sun on its orbit, we look out onto different parts of the universe.
"Some constellations, and the astronomical objects they host, are only visible at certain times of the year.
"Additionally, moonless nights are ideal - the moon’s light simply washes out fainter stars and objects, like nebulae and galaxies, although it has little effect on bright stars and planets.”
Land Rover UK's marketing director Anthony Bradbury said: "More often than not, finding dark skies is a simple case of escaping civilization.
"Away from street lamps, houses and main roads, the majesty of the universe reveals itself to the naked eye.
"It's always been in Land Rover's DNA to explore, and we encourage people to find the permitted routes less travelled and the areas rarely visited to seek out dark skies for themselves.
"Our recent expedition to the shores of Loch Torridon in the North West Scottish Highlands revealed the Milky Way and our nearest planetary neighbours in great detail, showing there's plenty of incredible stargazing to be done, even outside of officially recognised Dark Sky Reserves."
