Discover the best places to stargaze on your next campervan adventure!
At night, the sky above us comes alive with stars waiting to be discovered. But, for those living in bustling urban areas, light pollution often obscures these breath-taking views. Thankfully, the UK’s National Parks offer the perfect haven for stargazers, thanks to their dramatically lower levels of light pollution.
What makes stargazing even more magical is the freedom of exploring in a campervan, allowing you to journey from one awe-inspiring location to the next with ease.
With this in mind, the experts here at Select Van Leasing have created an exclusive guide to the best stargazing destinations in the UK - and which also support the nation’s growing ‘#VanLife’ trend.
To help you plan your next adventure under the UK’s starry skies, we’ve evaluated Britain’s National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) based on their stargazing appeal and campervan friendliness, before giving them a unique Select score out of 50.
How did we rank the stargazing locations?
Our dazzling stargazing locations scored points in a number of different areas.
One of the key ones refers to an area’s ‘Dark Sky’ status. The International Dark Sky Association is an organisation committed to ‘Conserving Dark Sky Places around the world’.
The International Dark Sky Places (IDSP) programme certifies stargazing spots across the globe and seeks to protect the sites through ‘responsible lighting policies and public education’. There are different types of Dark Sky Place certifications, including ‘Sanctuaries’, ‘Reserves’ ‘Parks’ and ‘Communities’.
Not all of the UK’s National Parks or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) enjoy certified ‘Dark Sky’ status - but the ones at the top of our list do.
We also relied on expert recommendations to compile our stargazing run-down, with an analysis of locations listed on websites like Go Stargazing and the National Trust, as well as local Dark Skies festivals.
Elevation is a big factor in getting up close and personal with the night sky, with stargazing clarity increasing as you ascend with height. So, National Parks and AONBs which naturally sit closer to the stars racked-up more points.
Finally, we looked at the number of campsites in a given area that allow campervans or converted light commercial vehicles to park up for the night. Not all sites do.
But with more than 680 million #VanLife posts on TikTok and with the trend for holidaying in motor vehicles on the rise, it’s an important factor for many of us.
The No.1 ultimate stargazing destination in the UK - Eryri National Park (Snowdonia)
Leading the way with an overall score of 38.3/50 is Eryri National Park (Snowdonia). The Park was officially recognised as an International Dark Sky Reserve in 2015, with the organisation describing how Wales ‘leads the world in the percentage of its territory enjoying protected status for its night skies’.
You’ll have no trouble climbing a hill or mountain to get a better view of the stars, with Eryri National Park boasting 90 summits over 2,000ft.
Select Van Leasing’s recommended stargazing places:
Llyn y Dywarchen (Rhyd Ddu)
Just to the west of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) is the village of Rhyd Ddu. And further west still, nestled in a quiet valley under the shadow of Y Garn and the knife-edge Nantlle Ridge, is Llyn y Dywarchen - a stunning lake. It’s easy to access and chances are you’ll have the view to yourself.
Pen y Pass Car Park (off the A4086)
As a starting point to wander up Yr Wyddfa, Pen y Pass is one of the busiest car parks in Eryri National Park. But when the hordes have decamped to the nearest pub and warm fire, it’s the perfect place to park up and stargaze. Light levels are low and the Pass itself sits at an elevation of 1,180 ft - about a third of the height of Yr Wyddfa - giving you a commanding view of the heavens.
Cairngorms National Park ranks as the second-best stargazing location
With an overall score of 37.1/50, Cairngorms National Park secures second place in our ranking of the best stargazing destinations.
The Cairngorms is the largest National Park in the UK, covering a whopping 4,500 square km of unspoiled countryside, including the popular ski resort Aviemore.
Select Van Leasing’s recommended stargazing places:
Tomintoul and Glenlivet
Described as one of Scotland’s hidden gems, Tomintoul and Glenlivet is an area set within the Cairngorm National Park that’s made up of Crown Estate lands.
In 2018, ‘Tomintoul and Glenlivet – Cairngorms’ became an International Dark Sky Park, thanks to its lack of light pollution. Besides an abundance of stars, the area is also home to Britain’s only herd of reindeer.
Cairngorm Mountain Car Park (near Aviemore)
This popular car park sits where the ski lifts set off up the Cairngorms mountainside - and it’s also regarded as one of the best places in the UK to witness aurora borealis, as well as for a spot of stargazing. The car park offers overnight stays and has provision for motorhomes.
Northumberland National Park completes the top three
Claiming third place is Northumberland National Park with an overall score of 36.1/50 in our research.
Thanks to its pristine dark skies and dedication to their preservation, Northumberland National Park, along with most of Kielder Water & Forest Park, became England’s first International Dark Sky Park in 2013. It also holds the distinction of being Europe’s largest protected area of night sky.
Select Van Leasing’s recommended stargazing places:
Kielder Observatory
What better place to view the heavens than from a dedicated observatory? There are events seven days a week covering everything from relaxed astronomy to stargazing photography.
Lordenshaw Hill Fort Car Park (near Rothbury)
This is a popular hiking area located south west of Alnwick, with fabulous views across the Cheviot hills. Wander up to Lordenshaw Rock, an ancient monument, and crane your neck skywards.
Which areas have the highest number of recommended stargazing spots?
Northumberland National Park leads the way for having the highest number of recommended stargazing spots in the area, with 64 in total. That’s according to the expert websites and specialist resources we studied.
Claiming second place is Exmoor National Park, with 41 recommended stargazing spots within the area. Exmoor was recognised as the first International Dark Sky Reserve in the UK in 2011.
Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) appears third with 37 recommended stargazing destinations within the area. The first designated International Dark-Sky Reserve in Wales, the area has some of the highest quality dark skies in the UK, making it an ideal destination for stargazers to visit.
The stargazing spots that are the most campervan friendly
For adventurers looking to plan their next campervan trip around stargazing, we analysed the national parks based on the number of campervan-friendly campsites.
Eryri National Park (Snowdonia) is the best place for campervans to visit, as 109 of their 155 listed campsites are campervan friendly. This means that 70% of the campsites in the area cater to various forms of campervans, contributing to its overall score of being the best spot to stargaze.
Travelling in a campervan is a great way to explore Eryri, as it helps you discover all the different stargazing locations in just one trip. It’s not permitted to stay overnight in a car park in a campervan or motorhome, so booking one of the many campervan-friendly campsites is the best option.
Next up in second place is Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, with 93 of its 109 campsites being campervan friendly - a whopping 85%. The Pembrokeshire Coast is great for a campervan road trip to help you explore one of the most beautiful places for stargazing.
The Lake District National Park ranks third, as 63 of their 110 (57%) campsites cater to campervans. The area also has 34 recommended stargazing locations, so visiting the site with your campervan is a great way to explore multiple destinations at once.
When's the best time to go stargazing in the UK?
The ideal time to stargaze in the UK is from October to March, when the nights are longer, darker, and offer extended opportunities to observe the twinkling skies. Winter nights, in particular, are clearer and crisper due to lower humidity, which provides exceptional visibility. This makes it easier to see planets, constellations, and other celestial wonders with the naked eye.
Additional stargazing tips:
If you’re planning to tailor your next campervan holiday around one of these stargazing destinations, here are some additional tips to make it a success.
There are a range of stargazing and astronomy apps that you can download ahead of your trip, that will help you locate and even photograph objects in the night sky. These include:
- Star Walk: Features a time travel mode that lets you fast-forward through the night sky. It also has a Sky Live page that shows the rise and set times for planets and the moon.
- SkySafari 7 Pro: Features include the largest database of any astronomy app, telescope control, unparalleled accuracy, and also help you plan stargazing trips.
- Sky Tonight: Users can explore planets, stars, constellations, and deep sky objects, check a moon phase, plan stargazing nights, and set reminders for astronomical events.
- Heavens-Above Pro: Features a live sky chart, precise predictions for International Space Station (ISS) passes, and the ability to locate bright comets.
In addition to mobile apps, there are several essential stargazing tools that can enhance your experience and make your observations more rewarding:
- Binoculars and telescopes: Binoculars are the best starting point for beginner stargazers as they are portable, easy to use, and provide a wide field of view. Once you’re comfortable and ready for an upgrade, a telescope will significantly enhance your experience.
- Tripods and Mounts: A stable platform is essential for a clear and steady view of the stars. Whether using binoculars, a telescope, or a camera, a good tripod or mount is a necessity.
- Red torch: When stargazing, your eyes need time to adjust to the darkness, and a bright white torchlight can interfere with your night vision, so use a red torch instead.
- Warm clothes and comfort: It goes without saying that stargazing at this time of year requires warm and comfortable clothing, so make sure to wear plenty of layers during your stargazing session.
What planets and constellations are visible during times of the year?
Autumn and winter are the best seasons for stargazing, but which planets and constellations should you look for?
- Saturn: The furthest planet, which is still visible to the naked eye. To locate it in the night sky, look out for a non-twinkling yellow star.
- Mercury, Venus, and Mars: These planets are visible before dawn in January. They will appear larger than stars, and shine with a brighter and more steady light.
- Jupiter: Jupiter is visible all night and is its closest and brightest in December. It sits near the stars Capella, Betelgeuse, and Aldebaran, and the open star clusters The Pleiades and The Hyades.
- Meteor showers: They appear as a series of bright streaks of light that seem to come from the same point in the sky.
- The Milky Way: Appears as a band of faint light across the night sky in dark locations.
- Orion’s Belt: Look for three bright stars close together in an almost straight line. The constellation also includes the bright orange star Betelgeuse and the blue supergiant Rigel.
- The North Star: The brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor (also known as the Little Dipper, or Little Bear).
- Cassiopeia: A distinctive W-shaped constellation that can be seen all year round.
- Auriga: A winter constellation that climbs into the evening sky in the east.
- Taurus: A large and prominent constellation in the winter sky. You can see Taurus from October to March, but the best time to see it is around 9 PM in mid-January.
Methodology:
This research was carried out by the team at Select Van Leasing to discover the best stargazing spots in the UK that are also ideal for campervanners and VanLife enthusiasts To determine the best locations for stargazing, the team analysed the following factors, ranking each a score out of 10 to achieve an overall score out of 80:
- Is it DarkSky certified?
- Number of recommended stargazing spots within the national park/area, according to experts and specialist websites
- Number of campsites that allow campervans
- Ratio of campsites vs allowing campervan (%)
- Hill Height (m) and elevation
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