It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of the night sky and gazing up at the stars and planets and marvelling at the vastness of the universe. So, when I had the opportunity to go stargazing at Battlesteads with AstroVentures, I was so excited and keeping everything crossed for a clear night.
I’ve looked up at the night sky at home, but it’s not the same as the dark skies of Northumberland. A well known dark skies location and indeed a place that people travel to, purely to look up (I mean the scenery is stunning too through the day) it’s the top place I’d recommend for stargazing – you just won’t get the same in a town or a city with all the light pollution.
Why Battlesteads?
Battlesteads is a great location for stargazing due to its location in Wark, Northumberland. It’s also somewhere you can stay overnight, to make your trip even more relaxing – especially good if you’re on one of the late night events (more on those later)
I was kindly gifted a 5 course taster menu which I enjoyed before heading to the event at the observatory which is on the same site, so very handy! There are stargazing supper offers available giving you a hot sandwich and soup to fuel you before you wrap up for the event. If you’re fancying a treat then definitely go for the taster menu. The ingredients are all seasonal and fresh, so what you get might differ to what I had. I also decided to treat myself to the wine pairing, for the full experience knowing that I had bed and breakfast too (we’ll just bypass the fact I’d told myself no alcohol until I’d ran my marathon, which at this point was in a matter of days – but, spoiler alert, I ran a 5+ minute PB so the late night and some wine 5 days before didn’t hinder me)
The food was fantastic and great value as the 5 course taster menu would cost £40. There’s an 8 course if you’re feeling extra boujee for £55 and the wine pairing I added was £30 with one glass per course. Of course you don’t have to opt for this and could go ahead and book the event by itself, but if it’s a special treat then why not?
Dark Skies Observatory at Battlesteads
The Dark Skies Observatory is handily signposted and there’s red lighting guiding the way from the car park. Red light is key for stargazing as it doesn’t disrupt your sight, white light is an absolute no-no. Obviously if you need to use a torch to help you see to get to the observatory, feel free, but during the events you don’t want to be waving lights around or using flash on your phone!
Rita was our lead astronomer for the night and she welcomed everyone and explained how the evening would work. We had deck chairs set up in a viewing area, a prime position to settle back and gaze up at the Orionid meteor shower, the telescopes which would focus in on key nebulae, star clusters and planets during the evening. I even got to see Comet Swan in the telescope which was a glorious smudgy affair. We could take binoculars and look up at the night sky ourselves if we wanted to, but I will admit I preferred being guided with the telescope to see things up close, then sitting and taking everything in from one of the deck chairs.
I should also say, attending this stargazing evening solo wasn’t even a concern. Of course it’s nice to share these memories with loved ones, but I was very happy to gasp ‘oh wow’ and bond with strangers for the few hours we shared together, plus I’m comfortable in my own company anyway. Going along to a guided event is a great way to learn and to ask all the questions you might be wondering. If you’re going out stargazing solo in the middle of nowhere though, do tell someone where you’re going, take a head torch and be sensible – but I feel that’s a whole other post!
I did try to capture some images and this is where my iPhone actually performed better than my DSLR. So I’ve got a lot to learn about astrophotography and this will require practice, patience and probably some decent gloves if I’m out and about in the winter! For that reason, I’ve included a few photos from AstroVentures but I would highly, highly recommend you go experience these views with your own eyes. There’s something so special about seeing a meteor streak across the sky, or watching as the dark sky becomes brighter as your eyes adjust and it glitters above you.
My stargazing experience and some top tips from AstroVentures
I remember the first time I saw the Milky Way, I was on a boat sailing in the Whitsundays in Australia (a solo trip back in 2018) and I didn’t take a photo, I simply lay on the deck and gazed upwards, taking in how incredibly grounding the experience was (yeah I know, kinda funny since I was on a boat, with sharks probably swimming just metres from the vessel, but you get the idea)
Anyway, sunny adventures aside, let’s talk about stargazing at Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory with AstroVentures and some top tips.
1. Find Dark Skies
Escape the haze of city lights and find a truly dark sky. As your eyes adjust, the Milky Way arches overhead, and thousands of stars shimmer into view. In that moment, the universe feels close enough to touch, you feel both small and profoundly part of something immense.
2. Witness the Dance of Light and Time
Every star you see tonight has its own story, its light traveling across years, centuries, even millennia to reach you. Stargazing becomes a glimpse into the cosmos’ slow, majestic rhythm, where you can witness the ongoing story of creation, energy, and motion in real time.
3. Look Beyond the Obvious
Most people stop at the bright stars, but the real magic lies in the faint smudges: star clusters, nebulae, and distant galaxies. Under dark skies, these subtle glows reveal how vast and dynamic the universe truly is. Once you’ve seen them through a telescope, you’ll never look at the night sky the same way again. Believe me, seeing Saturn through a telescope was so special and a real highlight of the night, even though the main event was really around the Orionid meteor shower!
Experiences at the Observatory
Stargazing supper (9pm start)
Shooting star suppers are planned on the dates of regular meteor showers every year and begin in the restaurant where you’ll enjoy homemade soup and a sandwich before heading to the observatory for the astronomy part of the night. Most meteor showers peak at midnight and later, so it’s handy to book that overnight stay so you can look up for longer! Next event: 17 November, 13 & 14 December.
Late Saturday Night (11:15 pm start)
Perfect for couples seeking a cozy, child-free evening or anyone who loves pairing comfort with cosmic wonder. These special late sessions let you witness the season’s newest cosmic sights, from winter’s glittering constellations to early glimpses of deep-sky treasures that appear later in the night sky. Held just once a month. This would be a good one to tie in with an overnight stay, unless you’re a serious night owl! Next event: 15 November, 13 December
Early Friday (6:45 pm start)
If you’re wanting a family friendly event, this could be a good one. Let young ones experience the magic of the dark skies. Next session: 21 November
Let me know if you’re a stargazer and if you’ve been to Battlesteads. Also if you have any questions about the experience, I’m happy to help answer, you can also check out my Instagram reel that might give you a bit of an insight into the trip.
If you’re looking to book before Christmas, don’t miss out on these offers. In the lead up to the festivities, you can save 20% with the code SAVEXMAS and enjoy 15% discount on a meal at Battlesteads Restaurant if you show your Battlesteads Observatory booking – good reason to go early as you need to show this for the same evening!
A hearty breakfast and coffee set me up well in the morning after my way later than usual bedtime. I’d definitely recommend booking the bed and breakfast if you’re wanting to stay up late and don’t really want to driving in the early hours of the morning. The tea/coffee/hot choc selection in the room was fantastic, those hot chocolate sachets found their way into my bag and came home with me. I can confirm, Ringtons hot chocolate is a good one!
Check out Battlesteads and the Dark Sky Observatory and let me know if you visit!
My stargazing experience, dinner, bed and breakfast was all given in exchange for review. Most of these photos are mine, apart from the two pro photos which I have credited. I need to practice more to see if I can get some results like that!
No Comments