Thousands flock to Exmoor for Dark Skies Festival under starry skies

More than 2,000 participants came to enjoy the eighth Exmoor Dark Skies Festival which finished last weekend.

People travelled from all over the country to enjoy stargazing events under some of the UK’s least light-polluted skies.

Exmoor National Park Authority hosts the festival, in conjunction with a range of partners across the area.

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Julie Colman who co-ordinates Dark Sky events said: “The festival attracts thousands of people who want to learn more about what they can see in the night sky and it gives Exmoor tourism businesses a real boost during the autumn months. Hundreds of people enjoyed our huge inflatable planetarium in South Molton and Minehead, which is an immersive experience for all ages. E-Bike Night rides and Dark Skies Yoga proved incredibly popular as well as a number of fantastic talks by Professor Roger Davies across Exmoor.

“ BBC Sky at night came along to film Dark Sky hub activities this year, we look forward to seeing the festival featured on our screens Monday 11 November at 10pm on BBC Four or on Iplayer.

"Our Childrens’ Writing Competition received a record number of entries and our three judges are busy reading through all the fantastic stories with prizes being awarded later this month.

“Stargazers can enjoy our International Dark Sky Reserve with the naked eye or binoculars, but for those wanting to see phenomenoa such as Saturn’s moon Titan across the planet's disc, they can hire a telescope from one of our national park centres. Dark skies events are available in the National Park all year around and the early dark nights of winter are an excellent time for families to venture out on our Dark Sky Discovery Trail.

“Plans are already underway for our 2025 Dark Skies Festival which will take place between Friday 17 October and Sunday 2 November 2025 and we are delighted to announce Vertu Bridgwater BMW will be our headline sponsor.”

Details of stargazing activities and events on Exmoor can be seen at www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/stargazing