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Castlehill Heritage Centre

Castlehill Heritage Centre

Castletown, Caithness, Caithness, KW14 8TG

Best time to visit

Car park and regular location for stargazing events by Caithness Astronomy Group.

Castlehill Heritage Centre is a Dark Sky Discovery Site, an officially recognised place where anyone can stargaze. Most such locations have overnight parking (sometimes with a fee); however, many do not allow overnight camping. There may or may not be toilet facilities.

Location events organiser

Caithness Astronomy Group

Caithness Astronomy Group organises events at this location

Please contact Caithness Astronomy Group directly with any enquiries relating to visiting this location

Email: [email protected]
Website: Caithness Astronomy Group
Facebook: Caithness Astronomy Group

Weather forecast

  • 19/03/25

    7° 4%

  • 19/03/25

    3° 0%

  • 20/03/25

    2° 3%

  • 20/03/25

    3° 1%

Weather forecast for Dunnet Bay - Murkle Bay/dunnet (beach) (1.2 miles away) updated 19/03/25 at 20:02.

Local light pollution

Castlehill Heritage Centre is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to arural rural location based on the latest data from the VIIRS satellite.

The above demonstrates the estimated effect of light pollution - graphics created using Stellarium.

Light pollution map of Castlehill Heritage Centre

Best time to visit

The Moon has a big impact on the visibility of celestial bodies in the night sky. Try to plan your stargazing when there is no bright Moon at night as this is when the skies will be at their darkest.

The below chart shows when the skies will be at their darkest at this location and therefore the best time to visit. Moonlight is shown in light yellow and the Sun's twilight in light blue. Midnight on the date shown is shown as a white line with sunset to the left and sunrise the next morning to the right. A black background with stars shows the best times for stargazing. See our dark sky calendar for more details.

Moon phase on Wed 19th Mar

Wed 19th Mar

Waning Gibbous
81 % illuminated
Dark from 19:52 to 01:47
Dark for 5h 54m
Moon phase on Thu 20th Mar

Thu 20th Mar

Waning Gibbous
73 % illuminated
Dark from 19:55 to 03:14
Dark for 7h 18m
Moon phase on Fri 21st Mar

Fri 21st Mar

Third Quarter
64 % illuminated
Dark from 19:57 to 04:24
Dark for 8h 26m
Moon phase on Sat 22nd Mar

Sat 22nd Mar

Third Quarter
55 % illuminated
Dark from 20:00 to 04:36
Dark for 8h 35m
Moon phase on Sun 23rd Mar

Sun 23rd Mar

Third Quarter
45 % illuminated
Dark from 20:03 to 04:33
Dark for 8h 29m
Moon phase on Mon 24th Mar

Mon 24th Mar

Third Quarter
35 % illuminated
Dark from 20:05 to 04:30
Dark for 8h 24m
Moon phase on Tue 25th Mar

Tue 25th Mar

Waning Crescent
25 % illuminated
Dark from 20:08 to 04:27
Dark for 8h 18m

Find more dates

If you are planning to visit this location check our dark sky calendar to find out when is best!

Calendar

Forthcoming events

Below is a list of events at Castlehill Heritage Centre. View these events on our calendar, add them to your calendar or Google Calendar.

  • Observe the partial solar eclipse with Caithness Astronomy Group

    Saturday 29th March 2025 from 10:00am to 13:00pm

    Castlehill Heritage Centre, Caithness, KW14 8TG

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

  • Lochend Cottage

    Latheron, Achavanich, Caithness, KW5 6DX (17.1 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info