Dark Skies Safari at Broughton Sanctuary

Broughton Sanctuary is thrilled to host the opening celebration for the 10th Anniversary event of the Yorkshire Dales National Park’s Dark Skies Festival, set to take place from February 14 to March 2, 2025. The opening celebration events at Broughton will run from February 14 to 17, 2025, marking the start of an unforgettable festival.

Celebrate the dark skies in an enchanting space embraced by nature, where you can discover an exciting range of nature and wellbeing stargazing events. Over the course of four days, visitors can recharge with an invigorating wild swim, a serene woodland sauna, and an intimate view into nature’s recovery. There will also be daily cinema screenings to complement the stargazing experience.

Astrophysicist-turned-Zen teacher Mark Westmoquette invites you to slow down and gaze up at the night sky. Begin with a Cosmic Body-Scan meditation indoors, then venture outside for mindful stargazing while discovering the stories of the constellations. In the event of inclement weather, explore the universe through a mind-expanding indoor journey.

You can also join experienced astronomer Chris Higgins to uncover the mysteries of how planets, moons, and stars came to be. Children and adults alike will have the chance to hold real meteorites—rocks from outer space that are over 4 billion years old.

This event takes place as part of the 10th Anniversary Yorkshire Dales Dark Skies Festival 2025.