Dark Skies Festival: here's where you can enjoy star-studded events across Whitby, Scarborough and the North York Moors

The festival, which takes place within the International Dark Sky Reserves of both National Parks between February 10 and 26, will feature many free and low-cost events for all ages to appreciate the wonders of a star-filled night, learn more about space and discover why the skies are worth protecting from artificial light pollution.

A new collaboration with Scarborough Pride to mark LGBTQ+ history month means that festival-goers can join a free Lantern Walk through the atmospheric Robin Hood’s Bay.

Families can go use investigative skills to find nocturnal creatures at both Danby Lodge and Sutton Bank or for a small cost, there’s everything from a mindful night walk on the clifftops above Whitby or ghost walks at Robin Hood’s Bay.

The Moors National Park Centre at Danby is hosting space-themed crafting sessions, which are also on in Hawes, Helmsley and Sutton Bank; also at Danby is an after-dark trail run followed by a yoga session.

For those looking for a slower pace to appreciate the National Parks’ dark side, there are various guided night walks from spots including Goathland, the Hole of Horcum and Lastingham, and mindfulness sessions at Dalby Forest and Rievaulx.

The rest of the programme includes astronomy sessions where guests can marvel at star clusters, galaxies and constellations while standing at beauty spots, whether it’s a woodland clearing in Dalby Forest or the ridgetop splendour of Sutton Bank.

Meanwhile those keen to brush up their camera skills can join nightscape and astro photography sessions at locations such as Whitby, Castle Howard, Reeth, Malham Cove and Ribblehead Viaduct; or learn how to capture the beauty of owls in flight at the National Centre for Birds of Prey.

Emily Watson, Visitor Development and Marketing Assistant for the North York Moors National Park comments: “This year’s festival is geared towards helping people connect more strongly with our pristine dark skies, enabling them to gain a new perspective by visiting popular daytime beauty spots at night instead, learn in a fun environment just how important the natural world depends on darkness and simply enjoy the awesome sight of a sky filled with thousands of stars.”