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Moors Valley Country Park - Forestry England

Moors Valley Country Park - Forestry England

Horton Road, Ashley Heath, Hampshire, BH24 2ET

Best time to visit

Moors Valley Country Park is a recommended spot for stargazing by Forestry England, although somewhat strangely, the park gates are closed early evening! However, their website mentions that visiting outside of regular hours can be arranged in advance.

Moors Valley Country Park - Forestry England has been recommended as a great place to stargaze by the local authority, national park, community organisation or property owner. May require payment for access or parking.

Location events organiser

Forestry England

Forestry England organises events at this location

Please contact Forestry England directly with any enquiries relating to visiting this location

Email: [email protected]
Website: Forestry England
Twitter: @forestryengland
Facebook: Forestry England

Weather forecast

  • 02/05/26

    17° 96%

  • 02/05/26

    14° 94%

  • 02/05/26

    13° 28%

  • 03/05/26

    12° 22%

Weather forecast for Fordingbridge (5.8 miles away) updated 02/05/26 at 12:01. Powered by Met Office data.

Local light pollution

Moors Valley Country Park - Forestry England 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 Moors Valley Country Park - Forestry England

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 2nd May

Sat 2nd May

Full Moon
100 % illuminated
Dark from 20:56 to 21:03
Dark for 0h 6m
Moon phase on Sun 3rd May

Sun 3rd May

Full Moon
98 % illuminated
Dark from 20:58 to 22:13
Dark for 1h 14m
Moon phase on Mon 4th May

Mon 4th May

Waning Gibbous
95 % illuminated
Dark from 21:00 to 23:16
Dark for 2h 15m
Moon phase on Tue 5th May

Tue 5th May

Waning Gibbous
90 % illuminated
Dark from 21:02 to 00:07
Dark for 3h 4m
Moon phase on Wed 6th May

Wed 6th May

Waning Gibbous
84 % illuminated
Dark from 21:05 to 00:46
Dark for 3h 40m
Moon phase on Thu 7th May

Thu 7th May

Waning Gibbous
77 % illuminated
Dark from 21:07 to 01:15
Dark for 4h 7m
Moon phase on Fri 8th May

Fri 8th May

Third Quarter
68 % illuminated
Dark from 21:09 to 01:37
Dark for 4h 27m

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

  • 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 (19.9 miles away)

    More info

  • Stargazing at the Island Planetarium

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

    Island Planetarium, Yarmouth, PO41 0RR (17.5 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 (12.4 miles away)

    More info

  • What the Giant Sees? Astrophotography Exhibition

    Thursday 7th May 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    St Mary's Church - Cerne Abbas, Cerne Abbas, DT2 7JQ (27.4 miles away)

    More info

  • Cranborne Chase Astronomy Club meeting

    Wednesday 13th May 2026 from 19:15pm to 21:00pm

    Grosvenor Arms Hotel - Shaftesbury, Shaftesbury, SP7 8JA (18.6 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 (11.2 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Old Harry – Swanage

    Burlington Road, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1LT, South West England (16.6 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info