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Pole Cottage Car Park - National Trust

Pole Cottage Car Park - National Trust

The Port Way, Church Stretton, Shropshire, SY6 6JG

Best time to visit

National Trust free car park with good horizons and no city lights. Contact Carding Mill Valley for camping.

Pole Cottage Car Park - National Trust 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.

Weather forecast

  • 23/09/25

    11° 0%

  • 23/09/25

    9° 0%

  • 24/09/25

    9° 0%

  • 24/09/25

    8° 1%

Weather forecast for Bridges Long Mynd Youth Hostel (1.8 miles away) updated 23/09/25 at 04:02.

Local light pollution

Pole Cottage Car Park - National Trust is estimated to have light pollution levels similar to a dark site location based on the latest data from the VIIRS satellite.

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

Light pollution map of Pole Cottage Car Park - National Trust

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 Tue 23rd Sep

Tue 23rd Sep

New Moon
1 % illuminated
Dark from 19:22 to 04:47
Dark for 9h 24m
Moon phase on Wed 24th Sep

Wed 24th Sep

Waxing Crescent
4 % illuminated
Dark from 19:19 to 04:48
Dark for 9h 28m
Moon phase on Thu 25th Sep

Thu 25th Sep

Waxing Crescent
9 % illuminated
Dark from 19:17 to 04:50
Dark for 9h 32m
Moon phase on Fri 26th Sep

Fri 26th Sep

Waxing Crescent
16 % illuminated
Dark from 19:14 to 04:52
Dark for 9h 37m
Moon phase on Sat 27th Sep

Sat 27th Sep

Waxing Crescent
23 % illuminated
Dark from 19:28 to 04:54
Dark for 9h 26m
Moon phase on Sun 28th Sep

Sun 28th Sep

First Quarter
31 % illuminated
Dark from 20:07 to 04:56
Dark for 8h 49m
Moon phase on Mon 29th Sep

Mon 29th Sep

First Quarter
40 % illuminated
Dark from 21:01 to 04:57
Dark for 7h 56m

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

  • Presteigne and Norton Dark Sky Support Group meeting

    Friday 26th September 2025 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    Presteigne Youth Centre, Presteigne, LD8 2AT (19.3 miles away)

    More info

  • Family stargazing evening at Rodington Village Hall

    Friday 3rd October 2025 from 18:00pm to 20:00pm

    Rodington Village Hall, Shrewsbury, SY4 4QS (16.8 miles away)

    More info

  • Carolian Astronomy Society meeting

    Wednesday 8th October 2025 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    King Charles School, Kidderminster, DY10 1XA (28.7 miles away)

    More info

  • Marches Astronomy Group meeting

    Friday 10th October 2025 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    The Banc - Knighton, Knighton, LD7 1BL (15.5 miles away)

    More info

  • Mid-Wales Astronomy Society meeting and observing

    Saturday 11th October 2025 from 19:00pm to 21:00pm

    Plas Dolerw, Newtown, SY16 2EH (19.2 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

  • Eaton Manor Country Estate

    Eaton-under-Heywood, Church Stretton, Shropshire, SY6 7DH (5.8 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Bircher Farm Stud

    Bircher, Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 0BS, West Midlands England (17.4 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Llanfair Caereinion Hill Huts

    Meln-Y-Grug, Llanfair Caereinion, Powys, SY21 0HD, Wales (23.8 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Alkington Grange Barns

    Alkington, Whitchurch, Shropshire, SY13 3NH (28.6 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • The Sheep Shed

    Llanrhaeadr, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Clwyd, LL20 7LF, Wales (28.7 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Lon Lodges

    Nantmel, Rhayader, Powys, LD6 5PE, Wales (28.9 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info