Best stargazing spots in the Shropshire Hills

The four Dark Sky sites in the Shropshire Hills are all at National Trust car parks at Carding Mill Valley and on the Long Mynd

The Stars in Your Skies group organises astronomy events in Carding Mill Valley in winter months to take advantage of the earlier nightfall. Members of Shropshire Astronomical Society supports Stars In Your Skies with Observing events.

These are fundraising events for the National Trust, in Carding Mill Valley, which provides the ticketing arrangements. The events are also publicised on the Shropshire Astronomical Society’s Facebook page, as well as the Long Mynd Dark Skies Facebook page, and on the Stars In Your Skies website.

The four sites are at Carding Mill Valley, Cross Dyke Car Park at Boiling Well, Pole Cottage, and Shooting Box Car Parks and you can see them on the Go Stargazing map here.

Watch out for Stars In Your Skies walks during the Church Stretton Walking Festival, as well as Stars In Your Skies events at the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven Arms.

Other events on the Long Mynd tend to be arranged at very short notice by local enthusiasts and are weather dependent, so do keep your eye on all the information channels listed above.

The dark skies of the Long Mynd mean that, from time to time, you may also be able to see the Northern Lights. Visit this site to learn when the Aurora Borealis may be visible.

Places to stay in the Long Mynd area include the Bridges pub, Ratlinghope, the Castle Hotel, Bishop’s Castle and, self-catering at Lower Farm Holidays, Shelve.

Both the Bridges and Lower Farm are well away from other light sources and so, if you stay there, chances or that, on a clear night, you’ll be rewarded by great star views merely by stepping outdoors.

Other accommodation that’s away from strong light sources includes:

Church Stretton area

Womerton Farm Bunkhouse

All Stretton Bunkhouse

Eaton Manor Country Estate

Grove Farm House

Craven Arms area

Westhope College

Greenway Touring and Glamping

Hopton House

Mocktree Barns Holiday Cottages

Bucknell

The Baron at Bucknell

The Old Rectory, Wheathill

Much Wenlock and Bridgnorth

YHA Wilderhope Manor

Pheasant at Neenton

This product has been developed as part of the Shropshire Hills Tourism Cooperation Project, funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under the auspices of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. The project is delivered by Gravity Consulting Ltd on behalf of Shropshire Hills and Ludlow Destination Management Partnership.