How to bookFor more event information and where to book visit www.darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk Some events require advanced booking directly with the organiser. See website for details.

Events that do not require booking you can just turn up for.

Where dark skies come alive

17 days of discovery! The North York Moors National Park is home to some of the darkest skies in the UK. For Dark Skies Festival 2018, we’re celebrating all things celestial with over 50 events. The stellar line-up includes stargazing events, night cycle rides and walks, dark skies photography workshops, pitch black zip lining, ghost walks, planetariums and so much more.

This year the Festival falls in the new moon period, which means the skies are at their starriest. Join us this February for an unforgettable astrological adventure!

The Festival is organised by the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales National Park Authorities, alongside the Howardian Hills and Nidderdale AONBs.

Experience and adventureunder starry skies

For details of events plus more tips and apps to download, go to:www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/darkskiesfestival

www.darkskiesnationalparks.org.ukwww.darkskydiscovery.org.uk

Dark Skies Festival is part of Destination Partnerships Moors and Dales, a project running until 1 March 2019 to boost rural tourism

across the four protected landscapes within North Yorkshire.

Image: Milky Way above Young Ralph’s Cross, North York Moors, Andy Dawson Photography.Front page image: Sutton Bank Stargazing, Steve Bell Photography.

This project is part funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas.

#DSF18 | #Darkskies | #Darkskiesfestival

Where dark skies come alive

North York Moors National ParkNorth York Moors National Park

image: www.noegochallenge.com

Top tips and essential gear

Food - stargazing can be hungry work. Some events do provide refreshments.

There’s more than meets the eye

Family-friendly The National Park visitor centres at Sutton Bank and Danby will be hosting a varied programme of workshops and activities throughout the day for families to enjoy, including Lantern Making, Treasure Hunts and Rocket Workshops.

Stargazing locations You can get fantastic views of the night sky just about anywhere in the National Park. Special events and stargazing talks will be also held at Yorkshire Arboretum, Byland Abbey, Dalby Forest Observatories and at the National Park visitor centres.

Dress warm- clear nights can be chilly so layer up!

Red light torches- keep your eyes in night vision mode. A red bike light will work!

Mobile phone - helpful for stargazing apps, in emergencies and doubles up as a compass to help � nd a constellation or star.Binoculars - a good pair

can show 25 or even up to 50 times more than the naked eye.

Patience - it takes 20 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness. It’s also essential when waiting for clouds to part.

There’s more than meets the eyeThere’s more than meets the eye

Top tips and essential gear

Dark Skies Events Leaflet DL 8pp v7.indd 2-4 06/12/2017 14:38

Owl Prowl Evening 14 February 6pm – 9pm

Witness the world’s most famous nocturnal bird soar through the night skies. Enjoy a guided tour of the owls by torchlight, a � ying demonstration of tiny owls by candlelight and see large owls � ying free in the woodland � ying ground. Booking essential: www.ncbp.co.uk Space is limited so book early.Location: National Centre for Birds of Prey, Duncombe Park

Go Ape Night Zip 11 & 12 February Every half hour from 6pm – 9pm

For the � rst time ever, adrenaline-seekers can experience 200m of uninterrupted � ight, plunging into the darkness of Dalby Forest. Don’t worry you’re safely strapped to a zip wire and you get to do it twice! Booking essential: dalby@goape.co.ukLocation: Dalby Forest

£12pp

*Buy as a gift

Min. height 1m. Max. 2 children per adult.

Stargazing Evening 10 February 7pm – 10pm

£4ppAdults

£2pp5-16yr Stargazing Evening

10 February 7pm – 10pm

Explore the wonders of the night sky, including star clusters, nebulae and galaxies under the guidance of the York Astronomical Society experts who will have a variety of telescopes for you to look through.Booking essential: www.yorkshirearboretum.orgLocation: The Yorkshire Arboretum, Castle Howard

£22pp

Map your astrological adventure Stargazing Danby 17 February 7pm - 9pm Sutton Bank 24 February 7pm - 9pm

Stargazing and fascinating talks with experts from Whitby and District Astronomical Society and York Astronomical Society.

Booking: www.northyorkmoors.eventbrite.comLocation: Sutton Bank National Park Centre & The Moors National Park Centre, Danby

StargazingDanby 17 February 7pm - 9pm

Sutton Bank 24 February 7pm - 9pm

£4ppAdults

£2ppChild

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Night Time Photography Workshop 17 February 7pm - 10pm

Fancy something di� erent? Join local photographer Richard Burdon and learn how to shoot stunning night images round Whitby harbour. Enjoy 2-3 hours visiting interesting locations around the harbour and old town. Full instruction on exposure and composition will be given.Booking essential: www.rjbphotographic.co.uk Location: Whitby Bandstand

£25ppAdults

*Buy as a gift

Night Time Photography Workshop

17 February 7pm - 10pm

£5pp Dark Run 17 February Register from 5pm, races start at 6pm

Run like never before under the black skies of Dalby Forest. The 5k route is open to all runners including children over 10 and will be marshalled and marked with glow sticks. All runners will be required to wear hi-vis. Booking essential: www.srmrt.org.uk/challenge-walks/Location: Dalby Forest

Dark Run17 February Register from 5pm, races start at 6pm

Hidden Horizons Planetarium9 & 23 February 19:00-21:00 or 21:30 – 23:30

Discover the North York Moors night sky with astronomer Andy Exton FRAS. View the constellations, planets and nebulae through the large telescope. Journey into deep space inside the mobile planetarium and enjoy 3600 of breathtakingly immersive projections of the cosmos.Booking essential: www.hiddenhorizons.eventbrite.com Location: Dalby Forest

£12ppAdults

£8ppChild U16

*Buy as a gift

Night Ride at Dalby Bike Barn Interstellar Ironstone – A Starlit Walk in Rosedale Night Ride at Yorkshire Cycle Hub Walking Weekend with Large Outdoors Byland Abbey Stargazing Night Vision at Forest Holidays Keldy & Cropton cabins Moon Watching at Chapelgarth Estate Candlelit coast walk at Staithes Saltburn Spa Hotel Valentines Stargazing & more YHA Boggle Hole Stargazing & Crafts YHA Whitby Night Skies and Crafts Night Rides at Sutton Bank Bikes Dark Skies Photography Workshop Dark Skies at The North Yorkshire Moors Railway

Dark Skies Festival events Dark Skies Discovery Sites Night Time Photography Workshop Robin Hood’s Bay Ghost Walk Yorkshire True Grit Dark Skies, Newburgh Priory Stargazing Evening at Yorkshire Arboretum Owl Prowl Evening, Duncombe Park Hidden Horizons Planetarium Go Ape Night Zip Dark Run

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Yorkshire True Grit Dark Skies 24 February From 4pm

Ride o� into the night on a Dark Skies gravel biking challenge. Cycle under the clear skies of the North York Moors and enjoy the spectacular views of thousands of stars and constellations above as you ride through forests, open moorland and private land.Booking essential: www.yorkshiretruegrit.co.uk Over 12s allowed with parents. Contact organisers � rst. Location: Newburgh Priory, Coxwold

£50pp

*Buy as a gift

Howardian Hills AONB Night Ride at Yorkshire Cycle Hub Walking Weekend with Large Outdoors Byland Abbey Stargazing Night Vision at Forest Holidays Keldy & Cropton cabins Moon Watching at Chapelgarth Estate

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Owl Prowl Evening14 February 6pm – 9pm

Here’s a taster of what’s to come as part of the Dark Skies Festival 2018. There are more than 50 events taking place over the two week festival throughout the North York Moors, so there’s something for all the family to enjoy. For the full list of events, helpful tips and to � nd out what’s also going on in the Yorkshire Dales, head to www.darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk

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