Where to go stargazing in North Wales
There are few things better than looking up on a properly dark night.
Here on Ynys Môn, we’re lucky enough to have much darker skies than many parts of the UK. Head across the Menai Strait into Eryri and things get darker still: the National Park is an International Dark Sky Reserve, recognised for the quality of its night skies and efforts to protect them from light pollution.
On a clear night you don’t need a telescope, or really any idea what you’re looking at, to enjoy it. Give your eyes time to adjust and you might pick out the Milky Way, planets, constellations and, if your timing is good, a meteor or two.
So, fill a flask, find your warmest coat and head outside. Here are a few of our favourite places to go stargazing in North Wales.
Penmon, Ynys Môn
At the eastern tip of Anglesey, Penmon has all the ingredients for a memorable night outside: a wide expanse of sea, very little surrounding light and the unmistakable black-and-white stripes of Trwyn Du lighthouse.
On a clear night, the open horizon makes it a wonderful place to watch the stars appear over the water.
Ynys Llanddwyn and Niwbwrch
It’s difficult to think of many places more atmospheric than Ynys Llanddwyn at night.
By day, there are views across the water towards the mountains of Eryri. As daylight disappears, the familiar landscape changes completely. The forest darkens behind you, the mountains become silhouettes and, on the right night, thousands of stars emerge overhead.
We’ve written before about the particular magic of this landscape after dark, and it remains one of our favourite places on the island.
Bear in mind that a stargazing trip here requires a little more planning than simply stepping out of the car. Check access arrangements, tides and your route in daylight, and take a proper torch for the walk – preferably one with a red-light setting for when you’re actually looking at the stars.
South Stack, Ynys Môn
The west coast of Anglesey gives you some wonderfully open skies, and the area around South Stack is hard to beat for drama.
By daylight it’s all sea cliffs, seabirds and crashing waves. After dark, those huge views give way to an equally huge sky.
It can also be very exposed. Even when the rest of the island feels relatively calm, a night beside the Irish Sea can be decidedly bracing. Layers, hat, gloves and something hot in a flask are highly recommended.
Llyn Ogwen, Eryri
For stars with a mountain backdrop, head into the Ogwen Valley.
Llyn Ogwen sits beneath some of Eryri’s most recognisable peaks, including Tryfan, and after sunset their outlines make a spectacular foreground to the night sky.
It’s also a good reminder that stargazing doesn’t have to involve climbing a mountain in the dark. In fact, we’d strongly recommend that it doesn’t. Find a safe, accessible spot at valley level, let your eyes adjust and look up.
How to have a better night under the stars
- Pick a night near the new moon. A bright full moon is beautiful in its own right, but its light washes out many of the fainter stars. For the darkest skies, check the moon phase before setting off.
- Check the cloud forecast. This sounds rather obvious, but North Wales weather likes to keep us humble. A beautifully dark location is not much use beneath a thick blanket of cloud.
- Let your eyes adjust. It takes around 20 minutes for your night vision to really get going. Avoid looking at your phone while you wait.
- Use a red light. If your headtorch has a red setting, use it. Red light interferes far less with your night vision than a bright white torch.
- Arrive in daylight. Beaches, mountains, lakes and cliffs all demand respect after dark. Get to know where you are before the sun disappears and stick to safe, established areas.
- Leave the darkness dark. Artificial light doesn’t only spoil our view of the stars. Darkness is important for wildlife too. Keep unnecessary lights switched off, keep noise down and, as ever, leave no trace behind.
