Image credit: South Downs National Park Authority 

As the days get shorter, many of us turn to firework displays and bonfire celebrations to brighten our evenings, but there are plenty of natural wonders to be spotted in the night sky too.  

It’s the perfect time of year to go stargazing, spot the Milky Way or be amazed by the Aurora Borealis – also known as the Northern Lights. 

There are just 22 official International Dark Skies reserves in the world, and 7 of those are in the UK. They are Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (Brecon Beacons), Cranbourne Chase, Eryri National Park (Snowdonia), Exmoor National Park, Moore’s Reserve (South Downs National Park) North York National Park and Yorkshire Dales National Park, although other areas such as the Cairngorms and North Ronaldsay are internationally renowned for incredible night skies too. 

Many National Parks run annual Dark Skies Festivals, which can be a great way to experience the wonder of the night’s sky, often with an expert guide and a warming drink included!  

If you’re a confident walker and prepared to brave the dark, even a short walk into the countryside and away from light pollution can help you see those starry skies. Pick a clear, cloudless night to be in with the best chance of picking out stars and other features. 

We’ve pulled together our top tips for helping you get the most from a moonlit walk. 

 

1. Stick to the familiar

If walking at night, it’s safest to pick a route you know well, avoiding any steep drops or obstacles that could be harder to see at night. Walks along defined paths, with walls and other linear features can help ensure you don’t lose your way in the dark.  

 

2. Turn off the torch but still be seen 

It can take up to 30 minutes for your eyes to fully adjust to the dark, helping you to see night sky features like the Milky Way and Northern Lights much more clearly. While torchlight can be important in helping you get to a watching spot, once you’re safely there and settled, turn off any artificial light. Wearing reflective clothing if walking after dark can help keep you safer too. 

 

3. Prepare for the cold

A brisk walk to and from your watch point will warm you up but have layers ready if you’re planning to sit and watch the skies. Nighttime temperatures are a lot colder than daytimes ones. Taking a blanket for sitting on, thermal layers and a thermos full of something hot can all help keep you warm while watching.

 

4. Use tech to your advantage 

Many people expect the Aurora Borealis to light up the sky. With the naked eye, the colours are far less striking. The way the light is processed through a camera lens means the solar spectacle is enhanced on a phone or camera screen. Using a long exposure is the best way to capture the colours. Apps like Aurora Watch UK can even alert you when conditions are right in your area but you can check this on a desktop computer too.   

 

5. Don’t get caught out by car park closures

If you are setting out early and getting home by car, double check if there’s a closing time at the car park. You don’t want to come back to locked barriers and no way to get home! If the car park does close early, find a suitable layby where you can park safely instead, taking care not to block emergency or farm access points.  

 

6. Expect nighttime noises

From coughing sheep to barking deer, animals can make a lot of night time noises that might be unfamiliar but are nothing to worry about. You might even get to hear the ‘twit-twoo’ of tawny owls as they call to each other in the dark! 

 

 “There’s something special about walking a landscape you know well at night, using the moonlight and familiar paths to help guide you. Learning to walk with confidence in the countryside after dark can help you to see spectacular sunrises, sunsets and starry night skies too.  

My first Northern Lights experience was watching alone on the banks of Loch Ness, Scotland. The Aurora Watch app had pinged on my phone, telling me conditions were just right to see it with the naked eye that evening. There was light cloud cover where I was though, which meant the natural light show was hard to make out.  

A few weeks later, back home in Sussex, the app pinged again. A friend and I headed out to the South Downs and walked a short distance from the road to get away from any light pollution. We faced north, let our eyes adjust and the colours were so much clearer! We could see pale streaks of green and magenta sweeping across the cloudless sky. It was magical and never something I expected to be able to see in Sussex.”  Sara Humphrey