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Martin Down National Nature Reserve Car Park

Martin Down National Nature Reserve Car Park

Near East Woodyates, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5

Best time to visit

Easy accessed car park a few miles outside of Salisbury and away from the bright lights.  The location is an officially recognised Dark Sky Discovery Site in the Cranbourne Chase Dark Sky Reserve.

Martin Down National Nature Reserve Car Park 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

Dark Night Skies Cranborne Chase National Landscape

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
Facebook: Dark Night Skies Cranborne Chase National Landscape

Weather forecast

  • 12/09/26

    20° 5%

  • 12/09/26

    20° 5%

  • 12/09/26

    19° 5%

  • 13/09/26

    17° 6%

Weather forecast for Fordingbridge (7.8 miles away) updated 12/09/26 at 12:01. Powered by Met Office data.

Local light pollution

Martin Down National Nature Reserve Car Park is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to a 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 Martin Down National Nature Reserve Car Park

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 12th Sep

Sat 12th Sep

New Moon
1 % illuminated
Dark from 19:43 to 04:26
Dark for 8h 42m
Moon phase on Sun 13th Sep

Sun 13th Sep

Waxing Crescent
4 % illuminated
Dark from 19:40 to 04:28
Dark for 8h 47m
Moon phase on Mon 14th Sep

Mon 14th Sep

Waxing Crescent
9 % illuminated
Dark from 19:38 to 04:30
Dark for 8h 51m
Moon phase on Tue 15th Sep

Tue 15th Sep

Waxing Crescent
16 % illuminated
Dark from 19:35 to 04:32
Dark for 8h 56m
Moon phase on Wed 16th Sep

Wed 16th Sep

Waxing Crescent
24 % illuminated
Dark from 19:52 to 04:33
Dark for 8h 41m
Moon phase on Thu 17th Sep

Thu 17th Sep

First Quarter
33 % illuminated
Dark from 20:27 to 04:35
Dark for 8h 8m
Moon phase on Fri 18th Sep

Fri 18th Sep

First Quarter
42 % illuminated
Dark from 21:14 to 04:37
Dark for 7h 23m

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

  • Toothill Observatory Public Open Evening – September 2026 (BACKUP)

    Friday 11th September 2026 from 19:30pm to Saturday 12th September 2026 21:30pm

    Toothill Observatory, Southampton, SO16 8AL (21.5 miles away)

    More info

  • Stargazing at Durlston Astronomy Centre

    Saturday 12th September 2026 from 20:45pm to 22:45pm

    Durlston Astronomy Centre and Observatory, Swanage, BH19 2JL (26.6 miles away)

    More info

  • Solent Amateur Astronomers meeting

    Tuesday 15th September 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    Oasis Academy, Southampton, SO16 8FA (21.5 miles away)

    More info

  • Fordingbridge Astronomers monthly meeting

    Wednesday 16th September 2026 from 00:00am to 00:00am

    The Elm Tree - Ringwood, Ringwood, BH24 3DY (12.2 miles away)

    More info

  • Andover Astronomical Society meeting

    Thursday 17th September 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Hurstbourne Tarrant Community Centre, Hurstbourne Tarrant, SP11 0AX (29.7 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

  • Cosy Oak Yurt – Cranborne Chase

    Coombe Bissett, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP5 4LP (4.7 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Old Harry – Swanage

    Burlington Road, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1LT, South West England (24.8 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Wild Camping Wiltshire

    Dark Lane, Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 3FZ, South West England (29.0 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info