Dark Skies Experience at Sutton Bank

Join the team from Large Outdoors in the North York Moors National Park for an evening of celestial delights.

Sutton Bank is a captivating location (home to one of the North York Moors National Park’s visitor centres) where visitors typically enjoy panoramic views from the dramatic escarpment during the daylight hours.

At night, however, Sutton Bank becomes a Dark Sky Discovery Site – a proper night-sky paradise officially recognised for its low light pollution levels and apparent horizons.

You’ll meet the Large Outdoors stargazing guide at 6:45 pm, ready to start stargazing at 7 pm. They will introduce you to the night sky through our range of telescopes and knowledge of the constellations and cosmos. We’ll use the dedicated Star and Nature Hub – gathering around the outdoor seating area (with dark sky-friendly red lights) and enjoying a close-up look at the stars and other celestial bodies, offering the clearest views on the night.

Along with our regular telescopes, we’ll bring our state-of-the-art telescope with a built-in camera that we’ll use to snap some of the sights, which we can share with you as excellent digital souvenirs of what you see on the night!

As always, we’ll have a good laugh together as we learn and provide hot drinks (and biscuits) to keep you warm.

If the weather doesn’t play ball on the night, your guide will teach you more about the stars from the Star and Nature Hub’s dedicated indoor space, with an engaging and entertaining presentation and discussion about the night’s sky.

This event is part of the North York Moors Dark Skies Fringe Festival 2024.