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Loch Venachar North Shore

Loch Venachar North Shore

Venachar, Callander, Perthshire, FK17 8HP

Best time to visit

Enjoy incredible views of star-filled skies above Loch Venachar at this free car park, set on the north shore with views across the water and recommended as an excellent place for stargazing by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. The location forms part of the Callander’s Landscape Dark Skies Project.

Loch Venachar North Shore 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.

Weather forecast

  • 01/05/24

    13° 74%

  • 01/05/24

    12° 16%

  • 02/05/24

    10° 5%

  • 02/05/24

    9° 4%

Weather forecast for Aberfoyle (4.1 miles away) updated 01/05/24 at 12:00.

Local light pollution

Loch Venachar North Shore is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to adark site dark site 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 Loch Venachar North Shore

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 1st May

Wed 1st May

Third Quarter
55 % illuminated
Dark from 21:45 to 02:39
Dark for 4h 53m
Moon phase on Thu 2nd May

Thu 2nd May

Third Quarter
44 % illuminated
Dark from 21:49 to 02:35
Dark for 4h 45m
Moon phase on Fri 3rd May

Fri 3rd May

Third Quarter
33 % illuminated
Dark from 21:52 to 02:32
Dark for 4h 39m
Moon phase on Sat 4th May

Sat 4th May

Waning Crescent
23 % illuminated
Dark from 21:55 to 02:28
Dark for 4h 32m
Moon phase on Sun 5th May

Sun 5th May

Waning Crescent
14 % illuminated
Dark from 21:59 to 02:24
Dark for 4h 24m
Moon phase on Mon 6th May

Mon 6th May

Waning Crescent
6 % illuminated
Dark from 22:02 to 02:21
Dark for 4h 18m
Moon phase on Tue 7th May

Tue 7th May

New Moon
2 % illuminated
Dark from 22:06 to 02:17
Dark for 4h 10m

Find more dates

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

Calendar

Events nearby

Display nearby events on a calendar

  • Airdrie Astronomical Association club meeting

    Friday 3rd May 2024 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    New Wellwynd Church - Airdrie, Airdrie, ML6 0AG (28.1 miles away)

    More info

  • Renfrewshire Astronomical Society meeting

    Tuesday 7th May 2024 from 19:00pm to 21:00pm

    Walkinshaw Community Centre, Johnstone, PA5 8AF (28.0 miles away)

    More info

  • Falkirk Astronomers monthly meeting

    Wednesday 8th May 2024 from 19:30pm to 22:00pm

    Old Peoples' Welfare Hall, Falkirk, FK2 9PS (27.2 miles away)

    More info

  • Stirling Astronomical Society / Falkirk Astronomers lecture meeting

    Wednesday 8th May 2024 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    Old Peoples' Welfare Hall, Falkirk, FK2 9PS (27.2 miles away)

    More info

  • Airdrie Astronomical Association club meeting

    Friday 10th May 2024 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    New Wellwynd Church - Airdrie, Airdrie, ML6 0AG (28.1 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

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