Telescopes for beginners | free mobile app | Smart telescopes

Idle Valley Nature Reserve

Idle Valley Nature Reserve

North Road, East Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 8RQ

Best time to visit

Idle Valley Nature Reserve is a private location and is only accessible out of normal hours for stargazing by prior arrangement or when public events are scheduled.

Weather forecast

  • 06/09/26

    24° 5%

  • 06/09/26

    24° 5%

  • 06/09/26

    22° 5%

  • 07/09/26

    20° 7%

Weather forecast for Worksop (6.8 miles away) updated 06/09/26 at 12:01. Powered by Met Office data.

Local light pollution

Idle Valley Nature Reserve is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to a semi-rural location based on the latest data from the VIIRS satellite. For more advanced light pollution data, view this location on DarkSkySites.

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

Light pollution map of Idle Valley Nature Reserve

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 Sun 6th Sep

Sun 6th Sep

Third Quarter
31 % illuminated
Dark from 20:02 to 23:51
Dark for 3h 49m
Moon phase on Mon 7th Sep

Mon 7th Sep

Waning Crescent
21 % illuminated
Dark from 19:59 to 01:23
Dark for 5h 23m
Moon phase on Tue 8th Sep

Tue 8th Sep

Waning Crescent
12 % illuminated
Dark from 19:56 to 02:56
Dark for 6h 59m
Moon phase on Wed 9th Sep

Wed 9th Sep

Waning Crescent
6 % illuminated
Dark from 19:53 to 04:10
Dark for 8h 16m
Moon phase on Thu 10th Sep

Thu 10th Sep

New Moon
2 % illuminated
Dark from 19:51 to 04:12
Dark for 8h 20m
Moon phase on Fri 11th Sep

Fri 11th Sep

New Moon
0 % illuminated
Dark from 19:48 to 04:14
Dark for 8h 25m
Moon phase on Sat 12th Sep

Sat 12th Sep

New Moon
1 % illuminated
Dark from 19:45 to 04:16
Dark for 8h 30m

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 Idle Valley Nature Reserve. View these events on our calendar, add them to your calendar or Google Calendar.

  • Equinox Star Party at Idle Valley Nature Reserve

    Saturday 12th September 2026 from 19:00pm to 22:00pm

    Idle Valley Nature Reserve, East Retford, DN22 8RQ

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

No locations found