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Badbury Rings Car Park - National Trust

Badbury Rings Car Park - National Trust

Kingston Lacy, Wimbourne, Dorset, BH21 4DZ

Best time to visit

The car park for this Iron Age hill fort is an officially recognised Dark Sky Discovery Site in the Cranbourne Chase Dark Sky Reserve.

Badbury Rings Car Park - National Trust 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

  • 04/10/25

    13° 6%

  • 04/10/25

    12° 3%

  • 05/10/25

    11° 3%

  • 05/10/25

    11° 0%

Weather forecast for Wimborne Minster (3.8 miles away) updated 04/10/25 at 20:02.

Local light pollution

Badbury Rings Car Park - National Trust is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to a 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 Badbury Rings Car Park - National Trust

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 Sat 4th Oct

Sat 4th Oct

Waxing Gibbous
87 % illuminated
Dark from 03:45 to 05:04
Dark for 1h 19m
Moon phase on Sun 5th Oct

Sun 5th Oct

Waxing Gibbous
94 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Mon 6th Oct

Mon 6th Oct

Full Moon
98 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Tue 7th Oct

Tue 7th Oct

Full Moon
100 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Wed 8th Oct

Wed 8th Oct

Full Moon
99 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Thu 9th Oct

Thu 9th Oct

Waning Gibbous
95 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Fri 10th Oct

Fri 10th Oct

Waning Gibbous
88 % illuminated
Dark from 18:37 to 18:40
Dark for 0h 2m

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

  • Mediterranean Grand Cruise with Fred. Olsen and Go Stargazing

    Wednesday 17th September 2025 from 12:00pm to Thursday 13th November 2025 12:00pm

    Southampton Cruise Terminal, Southampton, SO14 3GG (29.1 miles away)

    More info

  • Moon Walk at Hengistbury Head

    Monday 6th October 2025 from 19:00pm to 21:00pm

    Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre, Bournemouth, BH6 4EN (14.7 miles away)

    More info

  • Women’s full moon guided walk

    Tuesday 7th October 2025 from 17:30pm to 19:30pm

    RSPB Arne, Wareham, BH20 5BJ (9.5 miles away)

    More info

  • Reaching for the Stars at Island Planetarium

    Tuesday 7th October 2025 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Island Planetarium, Yarmouth, PO41 0RR (24.9 miles away)

    More info

  • Stargazing at the Island Planetarium

    Tuesday 7th October 2025 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Island Planetarium, Yarmouth, PO41 0RR (24.9 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

  • Old Harry – Swanage

    Burlington Road, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1LT, South West England (15.0 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • DreamAcres – Cranborne Chase

    Coombe Bissett, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 4LP (15.5 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info