This remote but accessible car park is used to access the nearby King Alfred’s tower, a striking 49m tall folly (great for star trails perhaps!?). The location is an officially recognised Dark Sky Discovery Site in the Cranbourne Chase Dark Sky Reserve.
Location events organiser
Dark Night Skies Cranborne Chase National Landscape organises events at this location
Please contact Dark Night Skies Cranborne Chase National Landscape directly with any enquiries relating to visiting this location
Email: [email protected]
Website: Dark Night Skies Cranborne Chase National Landscape
Twitter: @CranborneChase
Facebook: Dark Night Skies Cranborne Chase National Landscape
Weather forecast
-
26/09/25
12° 5% -
26/09/25
9° 0% -
27/09/25
9° 1% -
27/09/25
10° 14%
Weather forecast for Stourhead (1.7 miles away) updated 26/09/25 at 16:02.
Local light pollution
King Alfred's Tower Car Park is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to a rural location based on the latest data from the VIIRS satellite.
-
Urban
-
Suburban
-
Semi-rural
-
Rural
-
Dark site
The above demonstrates the estimated effect of light pollution - graphics created using Stellarium.
Best time to visit
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.
Fri 26th Sep
Sat 27th Sep
Sun 28th Sep
Mon 29th Sep
Tue 30th Sep
Wed 1st Oct
Thu 2nd Oct
Find more dates
If you are planning to visit this location check our dark sky calendar to find out when is best!
Calendar