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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

  • 21/04/26

    12° 1%

  • 21/04/26

    12° 0%

  • 21/04/26

    10° 0%

  • 22/04/26

    6° 1%

Weather forecast for Church Stretton (2.7 miles away) updated 20/04/26 at 12:01. Powered by Met Office data.

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. 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 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 21st Apr

Tue 21st Apr

Waxing Crescent
17 % illuminated
Dark from 01:27 to 03:32
Dark for 2h 5m
Moon phase on Wed 22nd Apr

Wed 22nd Apr

Waxing Crescent
27 % illuminated
Dark from 02:09 to 03:29
Dark for 1h 20m
Moon phase on Thu 23rd Apr

Thu 23rd Apr

First Quarter
38 % illuminated
Dark from 02:37 to 03:27
Dark for 0h 50m
Moon phase on Fri 24th Apr

Fri 24th Apr

First Quarter
49 % illuminated
Dark from 02:56 to 03:24
Dark for 0h 28m
Moon phase on Sat 25th Apr

Sat 25th Apr

First Quarter
60 % illuminated
Dark from 03:10 to 03:21
Dark for 0h 11m
Moon phase on Sun 26th Apr

Sun 26th Apr

Waxing Gibbous
70 % illuminated
NO DARKNESS
Moon phase on Mon 27th Apr

Mon 27th Apr

Waxing Gibbous
79 % 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

  • Marches Astronomy Group meeting

    Friday 8th May 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

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

    More info

  • Mid-Wales Astronomy Society Public Open Day

    Saturday 9th May 2026 from 09:00am to 21:30pm

    Maldwyn Leisure Centre, Newtown, SY16 1LH (19.3 miles away)

    More info

  • Mid-Wales Astronomy Society meeting and observing

    Saturday 9th May 2026 from 19:00pm to 21:00pm

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

    More info

  • Carolian Astronomy Society meeting

    Wednesday 13th May 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

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

    More info

  • Shropshire Astronomical Society meeting and stargazing

    Saturday 16th May 2026 from 20:00pm to 22:00pm

    Rodington Village Hall, Shrewsbury, SY4 4QS (16.8 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

  • The Quabbs Cabin

    Upper House Farm, Rhos-y-Meirch, Powys, LD7 1PD, Wales (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