North Pennines Stargazing Festival 2025

The North Pennines Stargazing Festival is back for 2025 – running between Wednesday 22 October and Sunday 2 November. This year is the ninth edition of the annual festival – with almost 30 events on offer. Events are being organised by the North Pennines National Landscape team and a variety of other organisations and businesses – all with expert astronomer guides to help you enjoy the fabulous dark night skies in the North Pennines.

The North Pennines is the darkest mainland National Landscape and is one of the darkest areas in the country. The festival has been running since 2017 to make it easy for people to celebrate the area’s dark night skies.

• All of the events in the festival are listed below – with clickable links for more information.
• Bring warm/waterproof clothes/a torch (red light if you have one). No dogs please – they’re a trip hazard in the dark around telescopes.
• All events MUST be booked in advance (apart from the Moon trail at Bowlees Visitor Centre) – see individual events for ticket booking links.

The festival programme:

Stargazing on the Weardale Railway, Stanhope – 22 October (5.30 to 8.30pm) – SOLD OUT

The Orionid meteor shower, Grassholme Observatory – 22 October (8pm to Midnight)

Stargazing at the Lord Crewe, Lord Crewe Arms (Blanchland) – 24 October (7 to 10pm)

Stargazing supper at High Force, High Force Hotel and Waterfall (Teesdale) – 24 October (6 to 8.30pm and 8.30 to 11pm) – SOLD OUT

Stargazing for beginners, Allenheads Observatory at ACA – 24 Oct (8 to 10pm)

Dark sky astronomy and stargazing, Grassholme Observatory – 24 October (8 to 11pm)

Moon trail, Bowlees Visitor Centre (Teesdale) – 25 October to 2 November – self-guided trail (no need to book)

Alston Moor stargazing, Alston Moor Observatory – 25 October (6 to 9pm)

Stargazing supper at High Force, High Force Hotel and Waterfall (Teesdale) – 25 October (6 to 8.30pm) – SOLD OUT

Dark skies stroll, Nenthead Mines – 25 October (7 to 9pm)

Chasing the Northern Lights, Allenheads Observatory at ACA – 25 October (8 to 10pm)

Dark sky astronomy and stargazing, Grassholme Observatory – 25 October (8 to 11pm)

Stargazing at Raby Castle, Raby Castle – 25 October (7 to 8.30pm AND 9 to 10.30pm)

Dark sky stargazing, Allenheads Observatory at ACA – 26 October (8-10pm)

Dark sky and astronomy and stargazing, Grassholme Observatory – 26 October (8 to 11pm)

Introduction to astrophotography, Carrshield Village Hall (West Allen Valley, Northumberland) – 27 October (7 to 9pm)

Stars and songs: family-friendly stargazing, Bowlees Farm (Teesdale) – 28 October (5 to 9pm)

Family stargazing at High Force, High Force Hotel and Waterfall (Teesdale) – 29 October (5 to 6.30pm AND 7 to 8.30pm)

Dark skies run, Bowlees Visitor Centre (Teesdale) – 29 October (7 to 9.30pm)

Astronomy and stargazing, Grassholme Observatory – 29 October (8 to 11pm)

Lantern making and night-time mine trip – 30 October (4 to 8pm)

Why space travel is hard, Croglin Village Hall (Cumbria) – 30 October (7 to 10pm)

Family stargazing at High Force, High Force Hotel and Waterfall (Teesdale) – 30 October (5 to 6.30pm AND 7 to 8.30pm)

Lantern making and night-time mine trip – 31 October (4 to 8pm)

Astronomy and stargazing, Grassholme Observatory – 31 October (8 to 11pm)

Pies and skies, The Hive (Nenthead, Cumbria) – 1 November (7 to 10pm)

Family astronomy, Grassholme Observatory – 1 November (6 to 7.30pm)

Astronomy and stargazing, Grassholme Observatory – 1 November (8 to 11pm)

Astronomy and stargazing, Grassholme Observatory – 2 November (8 to 11pm)

Celebrating dark skies in the North Pennines National Landscape