Dark Side Of The Moor
Devon Life|October 2019
Exmoor Is Home To Some Of The Darkest Night Skies In Europe. A Festival This Month Aims To Get People Gazing Up In Wonder, As Chrissy Harris Discovers.
Chrissy Harris
Dark Side Of The Moor

Visitors to Exmoor will know that the views are out of this world. But it’s not just the daytime scenery that takes your breath away. The national park became Europe’s first international dark sky reserve in 2011 and provides stargazers with the chance to see the cosmos in all its glory.

Free from the light pollution affecting towns and cities, Exmoor’s blanket of darkness means you can easily spot the glow of the Milky Way on moonless nights.

“It’s about as good as it gets anywhere in the UK,” says Tim Wetherell, president of the Exmoor Stargazers Club. “The advantage Exmoor has is that it’s further south than many other dark sky reserves and that makes a difference in terms of what you can spot. The nearer to the equator you get, the more stars you can see.”

Like many, Tim will have his telescope at the ready this month.

Exmoor Dark Skies Festival has been organised by the national park authority to celebrate the area’s incredible night vision.

From 14 October to 3 November, you can take part in everything from starlit walks to mountain bike rides, wild swimming, astrophotography, meteor spotting and rocket making.

This story is from the October 2019 edition of Devon Life.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the October 2019 edition of Devon Life.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM DEVON LIFEView All
Legends Of Lockdown
Devon Life

Legends Of Lockdown

A new online exhibition features an array of Devon’s lockdown legends exploring their lives and communities during the pandemic restrictions

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2020
Look Out For Intelligent Slime!
Devon Life

Look Out For Intelligent Slime!

Think you know your waxcaps from your dog vomit slime mould? Exmoor’s conservation team needs our help to record the pretty and the not-so-pretty wildlife living in this unique national park. finds out more

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2020
Retirement redefined
Devon Life

Retirement redefined

Millbrook Village’s Leah Jackson talks to AMELIA THURSTON about how wellbeing and quality of life are at the heart of the later living community

time-read
3 mins  |
November 2020
Look to the future
Devon Life

Look to the future

SU CARROLL talks to Sir Antony Gormley about his contribution to Devon’s artistic life

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2020
Natural beauty
Devon Life

Natural beauty

Working with nature and the cycle of seasons, a new flower farm is blossoming in a fold of the beautiful River Teign valley

time-read
5 mins  |
November 2020
THE DIARY
Devon Life

THE DIARY

SU CARROLL recommends the best events across the county this month

time-read
10+ mins  |
November 2020
My kinda city...
Devon Life

My kinda city...

With the perfect balance of country and city life, Exeter still shines as the jewel of the West. STEPHANIE DARKES shares her insider insights into the city that stole her heart

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2020
Letting themselves in for hard work...
Devon Life

Letting themselves in for hard work...

Renovating your entire house is tough. Renovating someone else’s seven-bedroom Grade-II listed Georgian farmhouse and turning it into a high-end holiday let is even trickier. CHRISSY HARRIS went to Kingston see how it’s done

time-read
6 mins  |
November 2020
Lessons from history
Devon Life

Lessons from history

History author Ian Mortimer has taken readers on travels through time from the Middle Ages to the Industrial Revolution. STU LAMBERT asks him how our country and our county changed in Regency times

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2020
A Reform character
Devon Life

A Reform character

The owner of North Devon’s longest standing brewery is about to take on a new challenge, as CATHERINE COURTENAY discovers

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2020