Stargazing in the Lake District

The stars above the Lake District. Photo credit: visitLakeDistrict.com

Dark Skies in the Lake District, Cumbria

From stargazing experts to really anyone who appreciates the beauty of night sky, the Lake District is a must-visit.

The Lake District is one of the best locations in England for stargazing. Unlike towns and cities, this region experiences little light pollution, meaning that the sky is much darker and stars appear brighter and more plentiful.

On clear nights, you can witness a breathtaking canopy of 1000s of stars, and can even view the Milky Way stretching overhead (which is otherwise impossible to see from 80% of the UK).

With changing night-sky views all year, every month brings different dark sky beauty. Lucky visitors may even see the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) at certain times of the year.

What will you spot in the night sky?

Holiday under the Stars

Stargazing is a great activity to try on holiday, anyone can have a go!

Whether you’re an astrological expert, in need of a dark sky location like the northern Lake District, or simply interested in ‘what lies beyond’ following the Pentagon’s recent revelations… 

It can be a romantic date idea for couples to relax under a blanket of stars, or it can make for an exciting evening for families to stay up and learn something new together.

Even better, you don’t need to own your own binoculars when staying at Castlerigg Hall, simply loan them from reception!

Other reasons why you’ll love stargazing at Castlerigg Hall:

• We’re in a dark sky region, just tucked away from the lights of nearby Keswick.
• We purposefully don’t light up our grounds excessively at night time, to aid stargazing visibility and the local nocturnal wildlife.
• Our Hex Pod glamping pods have a skylight, so you can view the stars from indoors.
• We are in the process of building ‘stargazing observation seating’ for an even better, and more relaxing, view of the night sky.

A light pollution map showing how the region around Castlerigg Hall is one of the darkest in England

11 Lake District Stargazing spots

There are plenty of stargazing sites around the Lake District where you can see the best of the cosmos. But beyond having little light pollution, these are our top tips for finding a great stargazing spot:

TOP TIP #1:

It’s key to find somewhere that is easily accessible. No one wants to be wandering around in the dark trying to find their car after enjoying stargazing. Recommended stargazing spots:

     1. Pulling over on the high road – the Honister Pass – to see some wonderful views from right by your car.

     2. Follow our walking route to the Castlerigg Stone Circle – a circular, low-level walk with plenty of pictures to help you find your way.

     3. We’ve also created an in-depth guide to Walla Crag. But would urge people to only do this walk at night if they’re very confident and experienced walkers. 

     4. From Keswick, you can wander along the shores of Derwentwater for a spectacular nighttime view of the stars.

     5. Even from our camping fields at Castlerigg Hall do you get a great view of the milky way!

The Milky Way from Castlerigg

TOP TIP #2:

You also want somewhere with a vast expanse, to give you an uninterrupted view of the heavens above. 

     6. Friar’s Crag is a special spot on the shores of Derwentwater which is a great lookout over the lake come day or night

     7. At the ‘head’ of the valley of Wasdale lies the hamlet of Wasdale Head which has stunning night-time views down the valley, along the water.

     8. Another lake to look out over is Thirlmere, which has lovely views with Helvellyn and Dollywagon Pike in the background

TOP TIP #3:

There are also places around the Lake District that put on special stargazing events. These can cater to all sorts of stargazers, from novices, experts and even photographers.

9 &10. Grizedale Forest and Whinlatter Forest are usually only open during daylight hours but they often run night-time events. Keep an eye on the car park closing times, during the months with shorter days, you can stay at the forests after sunset.

11. Low Gillerthwaite Field Centre also often runs events at their accredited Dark Sky Discovery Site

12. Keswick Star Gazing Night 2026 Date tbc. 

Stargazing in Ancient Times

Close by to Castlerigg Hall stands the Castlerigg stone circle. This ancient monument, constructed around 3000 BC, is definitely worth a visit as one of the most important (and possibly first) British stone circle ever built.

Though the original purpose of the stone circle remains unclear, there is almost certainly an astronomical link to it. As the formation of stones in the circle has led many to believe that they have alignments with planets and stars.

For over 5000 years, people have been coming to Castlerigg to observe the heavens. It certainly is the world’s oldest attraction.

Learn more about the Castlerigg Stone Circle here:

Northern Lights in the Lake District

Witnessing the sheer beauty of the Northern Lights is a bucket list activity for many, but you don’t need to travel abroad to see this natural phenomenon! In the later months of the year, the Aurora Borealis can even be visible from the Lake District.

Of course, as with anything metrological, it can never be guaranteed. However, if you know what to look out for, you’ll have a better chance of spotting the Northern Lights on your next Lake District autumn or winter break. The key is to wait for clear nights, choose somewhere with low light pollution and an uninterrupted view of the horizon, and remember to look north.

The Northern Lights at the Castlerigg Stone circle

2026 Upcoming Dark Skies Events in the Lake District

Every month brings different night scenes to the Lake District, but here are some upcoming interesting astrological events you may want to witness:

• August 12th – A deep partial eclipse. 92% of the suns disc will be covered by the moon.
• October – December: Best chance to view the Northern Lights
• December: View the Geminid meteor shower

If you are interested in catching a meteor shower or any other astronomical wonders, there are plenty of books and online resources which will give you exact dates for when they occur.

Hex Pod Glampers enjoy a view of Comet Lemmon captured on the 25th Oct 2025.

See the Stars with the Castlerigg Webcam

Our live webcam, looking out over Catbells, gives you a taste of the darkness of the night sky here in the Lake District. Keep an eye out for clear sky days! The fewer clouds in the sky, the more stars you can see… Though you can’t actually see the stars with the webcam, it does give a weather indication for the evening and how much cloud cover there is.

Views of the Night Sky from Castlerigg

These photos have all been taken from Castlerigg Hall or the nearby area

FAQs

Where are the best stargazing spots in the Lake District?

• 1. Castlerigg Stone Circle
• 2. Friar’s Crag
• 3. Grizedale Forest
• 4. Low Gillerthwaite Field Centre
• 5. Wasdale
• 6. Whinlatter Forest
• 7. Kendal Castle
• 8. Derwentwater

How can I see the Northern Lights in the lake district?

• 1. Visit when the nights are long (in Autumn and Winter)
• 2. Find an area with very low light pollution ( Light pollution map )
• 3. Wait for a night with little cloud coverage
• 4. Pick a vantage point from where you have a clear view of the horizon
• 5. Make sure you’ve packed a compass and face north

What do I need to stargaze in the Lake District?

• 1. Make sure you wrap up warm with layers, scarves and gloves
• 2. Sensible shoes (such as walking boots) for walking in the dark
• 3. A map, so you know where you’re heading
• 4. A torch to read the map (preferably red light, so as to not be too bright in the dark)
• 5. Binoculars. Guests can borrow these at Castlerigg Hall.
• 6. Snacks, water and a flask – to stay energised, hydrated and warm

When is the best time to stargaze in the Lake District?

• 1. Winter is the season when the nights are longest and coldest, so you don’t have to stay up too late to see beautiful views
• 2. Autumn is the perfect opportunity to witness a meteor shower and is the best time of year to see the Milky Way
• 3. Spring nights are slightly milder than winter but you can still see many famous constellations, such as Orion
• 4. Summer has the shortest, brightest nights, but there are still meteor showers to be seen (such as the Perseids meteor shower)

The Northern Lights above Skiddaw from Castlerigg Hall

Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan–ATLAS has been called the Comet of the Century’ due to it’s brightness and the fact it only visits every 80,000 years! We captured the comet above the Lake District fells from Castlerigg Hall on the 10th October 2024. The last time it visited it would have been Neanderthals gazing upwards to view it.