Cumbria’s Dark Skies Festival Returns

Cumbria’s Dark Skies Festival returns from 12 - 26 February 2022 with a stellar events programme that brings art, outdoor adventure, and astronomy experts together to reveal the county’s famously dark skies, both in person and online.

The 2-week festival is back for its fourth instalment, with a wide array of starlit events held across the county, allowing people of all ages to celebrate Cumbria’s magical stargazing opportunities and connect with the landscape after dark.

Cumbria Tourism, Forestry England, Friends of the Lake District, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, and the Lake District National Park Partnership work in collaboration to bring the busy festival line-up to life, and they have some exciting new additions for 2022 including UV rockpooling on the West Coast, where starry-eyed adventurers can discover the weird and wonderful marine-life that sparkle after dark.

Astrophotography workshops, divine starlit dinners, and online planetarium shows will all join the programme, plus ‘The Big Switch Off’ held in Ambleside and Grasmere where residents, businesses, community groups and Cumbria County Council are joining forces to switch off the lights to better showcase the vast galaxy above.

Night-time canoeing with Path to Adventure is back by popular demand, offering a unique opportunity to enjoy a tranquil guided paddle across Coniston Water at sunset – discovering hidden coves and remote islands along the way and identifying the constellations that stretch majestically above as the night draws in.

Stargazers can tour the galaxy at one of the many engaging online events hosted by expert astronomers, including ‘Alien Worlds’ and ‘Standing in the Shadow of the Moon’.

Gill Haigh, Managing Director, Cumbria Tourism says,

“Cumbria easily outshines the city-lights for a winter break, with thousands of stars visible on a clear night and the milky way stretching majestically above. February’s festival programme is bigger than ever, and visitors will be spoilt for choice with such a fabulous array of events hosted right across the county.”

Visitors to Cumbria can find a selection of accredited ‘dark sky friendly’ accommodation providers that provide unrivalled dark sky viewing and unique stargazing break packages.

Many local businesses are also offering bookable stargazing packages throughout the winter, such as the use of high-quality telescopes, night-sky maps, waterproof rugs and hot chocolate, for the ultimate stargazing experience. The complete festival event programme so far is as follows:

14 February 2022

• Alien Worlds, Online Hosted by Carole Haswell,

Head of Astronomy OU

This richly-illustrated talk will outline what we know about our Milky Way Galaxy’s population of rocky planets. How do we find planets? How certain are we of their properties? What are the prospects for life elsewhere in the Galaxy? 15 February 2022

• In Search of Dark Skies, Online - Hosted by Richard Darn, Astronomer

Richard has journeyed thousands of miles in a quest to find the ultimate dark sky. But what about the UK? We have areas of lovely dark skies too. Where are they and what should you expect? Uncover this and more. 16 February 2022

• Dark Sky Canoeing, Coniston Water - Path to Adventure

Experience a tranquil night-time canoe paddle on Coniston Water. Stop off at the Swallows and Amazons island to enjoy a brew and gaze at the night sky, identify constellations and admire the beauty of the Milky Way.

• UV Rockpooling, Tanyard Beach

Discover the weird and wonderful marine life that comes to life at the Parton rockpools. 17 February 2022

• Galaxy Tour, Online - LUniverse Planetarium Team

Learn all about the different types of galaxies and how they work. Discover everything from stellar evolution to dark matter and black holes (because no astronomy talk is complete without black holes!)

• Family-friendly Cyanotype Photography

Workshop, Grizedale Forest

Hosted by award-winning photographer, Chris Routledge. Take a guided walk to collect leaves, seeds and

Festival Returns

By Cumbria Tourism

other items from the forest floor and learn how to make unique prints using a simple and effective photographic technique originally used by botanical artist, collector and photographer Anna Atkins. 19 February 2022

• How to run a stargazing event - Gary Lintern,

Astronomer and Astro-photographer

Would you like to extend your season into the winter months? If you’re somewhere reasonably dark, have you considered offering stargazing events? Gary Lintern, of Star Safaris, will show you how to get started, in an information-packed webinar. 20 February 2022

• UV Rockpooling, Earnse Bay

Discover the weird and wonderful marine life that comes to life at Earnse Bay 21 February 2022

• Starscape Pastel Art Workshop - Emma Hunt

Enjoy an evening with dark skies landscape artist, Emma Hunt. Learn her simple techniques used to create beautiful eye catching paintings of the local area and the star laden night sky. 23 February 2022

• Dinner and Stargazing - Inn on the Lake, Ullswater & Robert Ince

Enjoy a delicious two course meal followed by stargazing on the shores of Ullswater where you will be led on a laser guided tour of the heavens and have an opportunity to use large diameter telescopes expertly driven by inspiring astronomy expert, Robert Ince.

• Dark Sky Canoeing, Coniston Water - Path to Adventure

Experience a tranquil night-time canoe paddle on Coniston Water. Stop off at the Swallows and Amazons island to enjoy a brew and gaze at the night sky, identify constellations and admire the beauty of the Milky Way. 24 February 2022

• Standing in the Shadow of the Moon, Online - Hosted by Dave Whalley, Astronomer.

Dave, renowned Eclipse Chaser and Photographer will take you on his adventures across the globe to witness one of nature’s finest spectacles, A Total Solar Eclipse. 25 February 2022

• Astrophotography with Ben Bush, Grizedale Forest

Join award-winning astro-photographer, Ben Bush – Learn how to capture the beauty of the night sky using basic camera equipment and a few special techniques. Ben will have telescopes on hand to show you distant galaxies 2.537 million light years away. 26 February 2022

• The Big Switch Off, Ambleside & Grasmere

See more of the stars and celebrate the dark skies of the central Lake District as community groups, residents, and businesses work with the Dark Skies Cumbria Project, Ambleside Action For A Future, and Cumbria County Council to switch off the lights. 8pm – 12pm.

• Annual Star Count

Join the Annual Star Count from 26 February – 6 March, raising awareness about light pollution and the importance of seeing the stars for our quality of life.

• Forest Landscape Cyanotypes, Grizedale Forest

Join award-winning photographer, Chris Routledge for a workshop using your mobile phone or digital camera to capture the forest landscape. Learn about composition, exposure and how to transfer your digital image onto acetate, ready for printing. Suitable for ages 10+.

• Astrophotography with Ben Bush, Grizedale Forest

Join award-winning Astro-photographer, Ben Bush – Learn how to capture the beauty of the night sky using basic camera equipment and a few special techniques. Ben will have telescopes on hand to show you distant galaxies 2.537 million light years away.

Heather Wolfenden, Path to Adventure Director,

says, “We are very much looking forward to being part of the Dark Sky Festival this year. It is a fabulous opportunity for people to get out and explore the lake by night in a canoe and something not many will have experienced. Senses are very much heightened by darkness and there is something totally magical about being under a starry sky whilst quietly canoeing along the water!”

Jack Ellerby, Dark Skies Project Manager at Friends

of the Lake District, says, “‘The wonder of the Universe above inspires all ages, whether visitors or local people, to connect with wider nature. There is something for everyone during the festival to help refresh your spirit and sense of adventure.”