52 Ways to Enjoy Robin Hood’s Bay: #3 See A Thousand Stars
See A Thousand Stars
One of the biggest challenges with seeing our Night Skies is light pollution. Choosing the right location to explore Dark Skies can open your eyes to a whole sky full of stars. Planets, Meteors and so much more.
Dark Skies Challenges
Have you ever seen the Milky Way?
Did you know that in highly populated Towns and Cities due to the amount of light pollution the chances of seeing lots of Stars is very small? Infact, you may see as little as just 20 Stars.
Right here in Robin Hood’s Bay on the coastal edge of the North York Moor’s National Park light pollution is very low. The light pollution is so low you could see in excess of a thousand Stars and if you are lucky the Milky Way. All by the naked eye.
The North York Moors International Dark Sky Reserve
In December 2020 The North York Moors National Park was designated an International Dark Sky Reserve.
But what is an International Dark Sky Reserve (IDSR)? An IDSR is land that possesses an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights specifically protected for scientific, natural, educational, cultural, heritage and/or public enjoyment.
Robin Hood’s Bay sits on the coastal edge of the North York Moors National Park. Being on the coast Robin Hood’s Bay lends itself very well to observing the Dark Skies. Surrounded by cliffs, moorland and the great North Sea the only light pollution comes from the village. Purposefully lit in a way to get the most from our coastal night skies.
What You Could See
Throughout the year you can study our Dark Skies for:
Stars & Shooting Stars
The Milky Way
The Moon
Meteor Showers
Planets
Andromeda Galaxy - The furthest object you can see from The North York Moors National Park
International Space Station
You could even be lucky enough to observe the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) here on our coast. The more northward you are and the darker the night sky the greater the chance.
When you’re used to only seeing a few stars, seeing over a thousand with just the naked eye is a pretty breath-taking experience. Especially if it’s your first time.
The Moon
The Moon can also be amazing depending on the month, time of night and time of year. When a full Moon rises and it is low it truly is a tremendous sight to see. When the full Moon is up high the light streams across the sea lighting up the Bay and illuminating the silhouette of the cliffs and the Ravenscar headland. It’s beautiful and has been the subject of many Robin Hood’s Bay paintings and photos.
Full Moons and Super Moons are the most spectacular; they are brighter much lower and appear so much bigger. When the moon is less prominent the night skies are darker. This is when you will observe so much more in our dark skies.
Magical Robin Hood’s Bay
Perched on the coast between the surrounding cliffs of Scarborough and Whitby sits a Bay. The backdrop of the Bay is the old Yorkshire fishing village Robin Hood’s Bay. Built on a steep hill the old 17th Century village heads down to the Bay. Winding streets, steep steps and cobbled alleyways make up what was once called Baytown. A maze of a village it’s easy to get lost here in Robin Hood’s Bay. Just all part of the magic of what makes it so special.
Robin Hood’s Bay harbours a deep rooted history of smuggling. Legend has it that contraband could leave the Bay and reach the top of the village without ever seeing daylight.
With so much beauty the Stars and the Moon just add to the magic and atmosphere of Robin Hood’s Bay. You can see how the dark skies and the moon lent themselves well to the illicit activities of the night. You can almost imagine the smugglers at work shifting their contraband under nothing but the light of the stars and the moon.
Basic Kit
Arm yourself with just a small amount of kit and your stargazing, planet finding and Moon observing can be taken to a whole other level:
Warm Clothes – the most important bits of kit. Even on a summer night it’s advisable to wrap up warm, it’s cooler than you think. Layer up or take additional clothes and blankets
Reclining Chair - not essential bit of kit but saves the neck when gazing up, and far comfier than the floor. A great place to sit or lie would be on the benches along the Quarter Deck or the sea wall in Robin Hood’s Bay
Binoculars – Size 10 x 50 or 7 x 50 should be fine
Red Head Light – less light pollution and it’s always good to see where you’re walking
Star or Sky Chart – you want to know what you are looking at and where to be looking
Top Tips
What you can observe in our night skies will vary throughout the months and seasons:
The new Moon period is the best time for observing dark skies
Spring is good for observing Planets and Galaxies
Late August through to early May is ideal for dark skies
Autumn is good for observing the Milky Way
August, October, November and December when the moon is absent are all great months for observing annual Meteor Showers
Useful Phone Apps and Websites
Here are some useful Apps & Websites to really help you read our dark skies. The Apps and websites will also let you know what to look for and when:
Google Sky Map – hold your phone up to the sky and App identifies the Stars you’re looking at
Meteor Shower Calendar – tells you Meteor showers that are due
Stellarium – shows the night sky realistically
Aurora Alert - this App predicts possible displays of the Northern Lights
Meteor Shower Calendar - this is an iphone App where you can find out when the next meteor shower will be
Local Stargazing Events & Clubs
Here are some useful and handy links to local stargazing clubs and dark skies events:
You could even host your own Star Gazing Party right here in Robin Hood’s Bay in a Baytown Holiday Cottage.
Annual Events
Each year The North York Moors National Park is host to The Dark Skies Festival and The Dark Skies Fringe Festival.
The Dark Skies Festival usually takes place in February and The Dark Skies Fringe Festival usually takes place in October.
Both Festivals host a wide range of activities across The North York Moors National Park. All activities are centred around our Dark Skies. There will be activities for a wide range of ages, abilities and interests. Both Festivals usually involve our very own Robin Hood’s Bay.
Stay A While
So, why not stay for a while? Explore Robin Hood’s Bay by day and our Dark Skies by night. You may just get bitten by the bug and be eager to see more.
Smaller properties are available from 2 nights and the larger properties from 3 nights. All dependent on the time of year. All of our cottages are priced accordingly throughout the year. A little reminder all of our properties feature in size order. Largest to smallest as you scroll down the Accommodation Page.
For a quick look at our availability at any given time you can use our All Availability feature. Just click the green and yellow Check Availability button on the Home page of our website.
The February and October Half -Term holidays are peak times of the Winter & Autumn period. The Dark Skies Festivals usually coincide with both of these Holidays inline with North Yorkshire School Holidays. Don’t miss out on your Dark Skies adventure Book your stay early.
