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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
Twitter: @CranborneChase
Facebook: Dark Night Skies Cranborne Chase National Landscape

Weather forecast

  • 24/04/26

    19° 1%

  • 24/04/26

    19° 0%

  • 24/04/26

    16° 0%

  • 25/04/26

    8° 0%

Weather forecast for Fordingbridge (7.8 miles away) updated 24/04/26 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 Fri 24th Apr

Fri 24th Apr

First Quarter
49 % illuminated
Dark from 02:46 to 03:29
Dark for 0h 43m
Moon phase on Sat 25th Apr

Sat 25th Apr

First Quarter
60 % illuminated
Dark from 03:02 to 03:26
Dark for 0h 24m
Moon phase on Sun 26th Apr

Sun 26th Apr

Waxing Gibbous
70 % illuminated
Dark from 03:15 to 03:24
Dark for 0h 9m
Moon phase on Mon 27th Apr

Mon 27th Apr

Waxing Gibbous
79 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Tue 28th Apr

Tue 28th Apr

Waxing Gibbous
87 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Wed 29th Apr

Wed 29th Apr

Waxing Gibbous
93 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Thu 30th Apr

Thu 30th Apr

Full Moon
97 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS

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 – April 2026 (BACKUP)

    Friday 24th April 2026 from 19:30pm to Saturday 25th April 2026 21:30pm

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

    More info

  • Stargazing at Durlston Astronomy Centre

    Saturday 25th April 2026 from 20:15pm to 22:15pm

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

    More info

  • Explore Italy’s Scenic Riveria with Fred. Olsen and Go Stargazing

    Tuesday 5th May 2026 from 12:00pm to Friday 22nd May 2026 12:00pm

    Southampton Cruise Terminal, Southampton, SO14 3GG (24.7 miles away)

    More info

  • Stargazing at the Island Planetarium

    Tuesday 5th May 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Island Planetarium, Yarmouth, PO41 0RR (26.5 miles away)

    More info

  • Star Gazing in the New Forest

    Wednesday 6th May 2026 from 22:15pm to Thursday 7th May 2026 00:15am

    Tilefield Equestrian, Brockenhurst, SO42 7UE (20.1 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