Mid Wales the place to go For dark sky stargazing...not to mention the Sunsets!

 wwwJanuary 2026

 
Where’s the best place in the UK to stargaze than from the Seven Stars or in Welsh Saith Seren?
Mid Wales, of course — home to some of the darkest skies in Britain and globally recognised for its exceptionally low light pollution.
Wales is already celebrated for its unspoilt natural beauty, and it now shines even brighter on the world stage with two areas awarded prestigious International Dark Sky status. Among them is the breathtaking Elan Valley Estate, a vast 70-square-mile landscape stretching from Rhayader west towards Aberystwyth. The estate has made history as the world’s first privately owned yet publicly accessible International Dark Sky Park.

This remarkable site has been awarded Silver-tier status by the International Dark Sky Association (IDA) in Arizona, USA. Covering 45,000 acres, the Elan Valley Estate is now protected from light pollution — safeguarding the night skies for local communities, visitors, and the rich variety of wildlife that thrives there. Joining the Brecon Beacons National Park, the estate’s sheer scale also qualifies it as an International Dark Sky Reserve.

Thanks to these exceptionally dark conditions, visitors are regularly treated to unforgettable celestial sights. Frequent passes of the International Space Station and Starlink satellite trains are clearly visible to the naked eye, adding a modern spectacle to the ancient night sky. Even more rarely, the skies can deliver truly magical moments: January has already brought sightings of the aurora borealis and a striking halo moon, both captured in the accompanying photo montage — powerful evidence of just how special the Elan Valley skies can be.

John Barentine, IDA Project Manager in Tucson, Arizona, commented:

“We’re thrilled by the outcome and what this means for Wales. With other sites in the application process, Wales will lead the world in terms of the proportion of land protected for dark skies.”
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To discover more about stargazing experiences and astronomical events contact Dafydd at www.serydda.co.uk/
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