Part of Discover Teesdale
our guide to the walks, waterfalls, history and peaceful places that make Teesdale special.

Dark Skies of Teesdale

🪐 Welcome to Teesdale’s Dark Skies

Teesdale is one of the best places in England to look up and see the stars.
As part of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and UNESCO Global Geopark, this valley is officially recognised as a Dark Sky Discovery Site, meaning you can see thousands of stars, the Milky Way, and even the Northern Lights on clear nights.

Here, away from city lights, the sky comes alive.
Whether you’re watching from the moors above Bowlees, beside Grassholme Reservoir, or near the peaceful banks of Cow Green, you’ll find wide open horizons and stillness that’s hard to beat.

🌙 Sometimes, the best therapy is simply looking up.

🔭 Where to See the Stars

Grassholme Observatory

Located beside Grassholme Reservoir, Grassholme Observatory is one of the best places in the North of England for astronomy and astrophotography.
They run regular stargazing nights, talks, and telescope viewings, perfect for beginners, families and anyone curious about the stars.

💡Tip: Check their official website for upcoming events and bookings.

High Force Hotel

The High Force Hotel often hosts Dark Sky evenings with expert guides, warm drinks and hearty food, a perfect way to enjoy Teesdale’s night sky in comfort.
Even when no events are running, the nearby High Force Waterfall makes an incredible backdrop for night photography, especially under moonlight or frost.

💡Tip: Keep an eye on the High Force Hotel website for upcoming stargazing events and dates.

Bowlees Visitor Centre

Bowlees Visitor Centre
is a Designated Dark Sky Discovery Site, making it one of the easiest and most family-friendly spots in Teesdale for stargazing.
Beside the car park, you’ll find a stargazing hammock where you can lie back and watch the constellations drift across the sky, and inside are information boards explaining the stars above Teesdale.

💡Tip: Visit the Go Stargazing website for up-to-date details about Bowlees and other Dark Sky sites across the North Pennines.

Bowlees visitor centre

📸 Best Backdrops for Night Photography

Teesdale’s mix of waterfalls, ruins and moorlands creates perfect scenes for photographers.
Even places with a little light pollution can look magical after dark.

Some favourite backdrops include:

  • High Force & Low Force – the waterfalls glowing softly under moonlight

  • Egglestone Abbey – ancient ruins against a starlit sky

  • Barnard Castle – dramatic silhouette with warm light tones

  • Cow Green & Grassholme Reservoirs – wide reflections and Milky Way views

🌠 What You Can See in Teesdale’s Night Sky

Depending on the time of year, Teesdale’s skies reveal:

  • 🌌 The Milky Way stretching across the sky in autumn

  • 🌟 Constellations like Orion, Cassiopeia and Ursa Major

  • 🌕 Planets including Jupiter, Saturn and Venus

  • ☄️ Meteor showers such as the Perseids (August) and Geminids (December)

  • 🌈 And occasionally, the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) — visible on clear nights with strong solar activity

🌌 Understanding the Sky Map

This map is centred on Teesdale (around Bowlees and Grassholme Reservoir), so it shows what’s currently visible in this part of the North Pennines.
If you’re nearby — in Barnard Castle, Middleton-in-Teesdale, or up by Cow Green — your view of the stars will look almost exactly the same.

💡 The further you travel from Teesdale, the sky will rotate slightly — but the main constellations will stay in the same patterns.

A few quick tips:

  • 🕓 The sky changes through the night — stars rise in the east and set in the west, just like the sun.

  • 📅 The Milky Way is easiest to see in autumn and winter when the nights are long and clear.

  • 🌙 Moonlight can hide fainter stars, so the best nights are around a new moon.

  • 🧭 Use the compass letters on the map (N, E, S, W) to line up with where you’re standing.

✨ For the clearest skies, head to high, open spots such as Grassholme or Cow Green Reservoir, where there’s less light pollution.

💭 Why Dark Skies Matter

Teesdale’s dark skies aren’t just beautiful, they’re good for the mind.
Being outside at night brings peace, perspective, and a connection to nature that’s easy to forget in daily life.

“Sometimes the stars remind us how small worries really are and how big the world can feel.”

It’s all part of what Outdoor Exploring Family stands for: nature for a better mindset.

🏛 The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle

Although the Bowes Museum
is surrounded by gentle town lighting, it still makes a beautiful backdrop for night photography.
The glow from its grand architecture against the dark Teesdale sky captures the contrast between heritage and nature a perfect “Night Time Teesdale” moment.

Source: AuroraWatch UK

💡 How to Read the AuroraWatch Chart

The live chart above shows aurora activity across the UK, updated every few minutes.

  • 🟢 Green bar: No visible aurora expected.

  • 🟠 Amber bar: Possible aurora for northern UK (keep an eye out on clear nights).

  • 🔴 Red bar: High chance of seeing the Northern Lights, even in parts of northern England like Teesdale.
    When the bar shifts to amber or red, head out to darker areas such as Grassholme Reservoir or Bowlees for your best chance of catching the show.

💡 Quick Facts: Teesdale Dark Skies

🌌 Dark Sky status: Part of the North Pennines AONB and UNESCO Global Geopark
🔭 Observatory: Grassholme Observatory, regular public events
🏨 Event venue: High Force Hotel, evening stargazing sessions
🌿 Family spot: Bowlees Visitor Centre hammock and sky info boards
📸 Photography: Best at Cow Green, Grassholme and High Force
🌈 Northern Lights: Occasionally visible during strong aurora activity
🚗 Accessibility: Parking near all main sites
🧭 Best months: October to March for the darkest skies

When the sun sets behind the hills, Teesdale reveals another side of itself, one filled with stillness, stars and quiet wonder.
Whether you’re taking photos, joining a guided event, or simply lying back by a reservoir, the night sky here is an invitation to slow down, breathe, and reconnect.

✨ Discover Teesdale’s Dark Skies — where peace meets the stars.

Explore more in Teesdale

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