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Quantocks Great Wood Picnic Area - Forestry England

Quantocks Great Wood Picnic Area - Forestry England

Quantock Hills, Adscombe, Somerset, TA5 1HN, South West England

Best time to visit

The Great Wood Picnic Area, set at the heart of the Quantock Hills National Landscape, is a fantastic place to visit. Enjoy a family picnic, ride bikes through the woods and admire the majestic Douglas fir trees. Set in a hollow and surrounded by trees, there are limited views. However, this also blocks surrounding light pollution and offers incredible views of dark skies above. Toilet facilities are available, and the car park is open until 10 pm, allowing stargazers to explore the dark skies above.

Quantocks Great Wood Picnic Area - Forestry England is a Go Stargazing Site. The location has been identified by the Go Stargazing team as a good location for stargazing based on local light pollution levels, distance from nearby towns and cities and offers a safe place to park.

Weather forecast

  • 11/05/26

    13° 79%

  • 11/05/26

    13° 44%

  • 11/05/26

    12° 7%

  • 12/05/26

    10° 0%

Weather forecast for Bridgwater (8.3 miles away) updated 11/05/26 at 06:01. Powered by Met Office data.

Local light pollution

Quantocks Great Wood Picnic Area - Forestry England 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 Quantocks Great Wood Picnic Area - 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 Mon 11th May

Mon 11th May

Third Quarter
39 % illuminated
Dark from 21:23 to 02:27
Dark for 5h 3m
Moon phase on Tue 12th May

Tue 12th May

Waning Crescent
29 % illuminated
Dark from 21:25 to 02:39
Dark for 5h 13m
Moon phase on Wed 13th May

Wed 13th May

Waning Crescent
19 % illuminated
Dark from 21:28 to 02:47
Dark for 5h 18m
Moon phase on Thu 14th May

Thu 14th May

Waning Crescent
11 % illuminated
Dark from 21:30 to 02:45
Dark for 5h 14m
Moon phase on Fri 15th May

Fri 15th May

Waning Crescent
5 % illuminated
Dark from 21:32 to 02:43
Dark for 5h 10m
Moon phase on Sat 16th May

Sat 16th May

New Moon
1 % illuminated
Dark from 21:34 to 02:41
Dark for 5h 6m
Moon phase on Sun 17th May

Sun 17th May

New Moon
0 % illuminated
Dark from 21:48 to 02:38
Dark for 4h 50m

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

  • Cardiff Astronomical Society meeting

    Thursday 14th May 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    Cardiff School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff, CF24 3AA (24.2 miles away)

    More info

  • Crewkerne and District Astronomical Society meeting and observing

    Wednesday 20th May 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Norton-sub-Hambdon Village Hall, Norton-sub-Hambdon, TA14 6SF (23.1 miles away)

    More info

  • Somerset Levels Stargazers monthly meeting and observing

    Wednesday 27th May 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:30pm

    Othery Village Hall, Othery, TA7 0QU (14.0 miles away)

    More info

  • Cardiff Astronomical Society meeting

    Thursday 28th May 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    Cardiff School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff, CF24 3AA (24.2 miles away)

    More info

  • Cardiff Astronomical Society meeting

    Thursday 11th June 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    Cardiff School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff, CF24 3AA (24.2 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

  • Steam and Stars

    Samford Brett, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 4LJ (5.1 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

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  • Torre Cider Farm

    Washford, Somerset, Somerset, TA23 0LA (7.5 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

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  • Holi Moli Beach Huts – Dunster

    Dunster Beach, Minehead, Somerset, TA24 6TH (11.2 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

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  • Yarn Market Hotel

    High Street, Dunster, Somerset, TA24 6SF, South West (11.5 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

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  • The Oval – Exmoor Character Cottages

    17 West Street, Dunster, Somerset, TA24 6SN (11.5 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

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  • Holworthy Farm

    Holworthy Lane, Brompton Regis, Dulverton, Somerset, TA22 9NY (12.4 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info