Look up and appreciate the wonders of the night sky as the Dark Skies Festival returns.
The two week long festival is an annual celebration of our dark skies and the natural wonders of a star-filled sky. The events programme for 2024 includes night walks, stargazing, crafts, workshops, and more.
Now in its ninth year, the Dark Skies Festival will take place from Friday 9 to Sunday 25 February 2024.
The festival takes place across England, but we’ve put together a guide of highlight events happening in the North York Moors.
The North York Moors is one of only 21 locations in the world to be recognised for pristine, dark skies – and it was made an International Dark Sky Reserve by DarkSky (formerly the International Dark-Sky Association) in 2020.
For more information and to see the whole programme of events, visit the Dark Skies Festival website.
Eight highlights for the Dark Skies Festival 2024
Dark Skies – Walking in Heartbeat Country
Surrounded by high moors and interlaced with cascading streams and waterfalls, Heartbeat Country is a walker’s paradise. You will experience the Mallyan Spout Waterfall, which at over 60 feet, is the tallest waterfall on the North York Moors. The walk will include a section on how to navigate using the stars.
- Goathland, Inn on the Moor, YO22 5LZ
- Fri 9 Feb
- 5:30pm
- £30
- Booking essential
- More info
Whitby Night Photography Workshop
Do you fancy trying your hand at photographing something different during the North York Moors Dark Skies Festival? If so, then why not join landscape photographer Richard Burdon and learn how to shoot stunning images of the lights reflected in the calm waters of Whitby harbour from above.
- Meet at Whitby Abbey House Tea Rooms, YO22 4JR
- Sat 10 & Sat 17 Feb
- 7-10pm
- £25
- Booking essential – email [email protected] to book on
- More info
Dark Skies Crafts
Join us at Danby Lodge National Park Centre for family friendly astro-crafting! Learn all about the dark skies above us, whilst creating projects to take home. You could also follow our new constellation rubbing trail that is on the grounds whilst you’re here.
- Danby Lodge National Park Centre, YO21 2NB
- Wed 14 Feb
- 10:30am – 2:30pm
- £5
- Booking essential
- More info
Journey through our skies from your home
Join Professor of Astrophysics and exoplanets discoverer Carole Haswell, for an interactive online presentation to learn all about the stars and planets in the night sky. During the online event, Carole will share some of the latest breath-taking images from space telescopes, explain how astronomers use light to explore the life cycles of stars and planets, and share some of her adventures in astronomy.
- Online event
- Thu 15 Feb
- 6:30pm
- £3 per device
- Booking essential
- More info
Introduction to Night Time Bike Riding
Have you ever wanted to experience what it’s like riding at night time? As part of our Dark Skies Festival, we are offering introductory sessions in partnership with Sutton Bank Bikes. You will be taken out on a guided bike ride along the green route (3 miles) at Sutton Bank National Park Centre.
- Sutton Bank National Park Centre, YO7 2EH
- Fri 16 Feb
- 7pm
- £10
- Booking essential
- More info
The Cistercian Dark Skies Walk
This is a 7 mile circular walk linking ancient monuments set within the beautiful North York Moors. Starting in the charming Yorkshire market town of Helmsley we head off through the grounds of Duncombe Park before picking up the Cleveland Way and heading off towards Rievaulx Abbey, dating back to 1131 became the largest and richest Cistercian Abbey in England. We then head back via the Cleveland Way and return to Helmsley.
- The Black Swan, Helmsley, YO62 5BJ
- Wed 21 Feb
- 5:30pm
- £30
- Booking essential
- More info
Magical Moonlit Meander – full moon experience for women
Join Adventures for the Soul for a magical moonlit night experience for women. This will be a wonderful opportunity to switch off, slow down and take time out for you. In the safety of a small group, meander through ancient woodlands at night guided by the light of the moon. Learn a different way to stargaze and moon bathe. Warm yourself next to a roaring fire in the woods, drinking hot chocolate in the company of other like-minded women.
- Park House Barns, Pottergate, Gilling East, YO62 4JA
- Sat 24 Feb
- 5:30pm
- £35
- Booking essential
- More info
Walking with The Long Dead Stars
Experience a dark skies walking arts experience in Blakey Moor together with Electronic Dance Poets Claire Hind and Robert Wilsmore. Walk to embody the dark skies following a creative score, to a place where you will all be invited to listen, move, dance – or lie down, and listen, outside, to the music of The Long Dead Stars. The return walk will be accompanied by prompt to write your own creative material using performance writing techniques before we invite all who walk to join us for a gathering in the local pub for creative reflection.
- Blakey Ridge Walk, YO62 7LQ
- Sun 25 Feb
- 7:30pm
- Free
- Booking essential – email [email protected] to reserve your free space
- More info