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Shooting Box Car Park

Shooting Box Car Park

Ratlinghope Road, Church Stretton, Shropshire, SY6

Best time to visit

National Trust owned car park, no toilets or lights.

Shooting Box 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.

Weather forecast

  • 25/08/25

    24° 0%

  • 25/08/25

    18° 0%

Weather forecast for Bridges Long Mynd Youth Hostel (1.4 miles away) updated 25/08/25 at 16:00.

Local light pollution

Shooting Box Car Park 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 Shooting Box 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 Mon 25th Aug

Mon 25th Aug

New Moon
3 % illuminated
Dark from 20:38 to 03:50
Dark for 7h 11m
Moon phase on Tue 26th Aug

Tue 26th Aug

Waxing Crescent
8 % illuminated
Dark from 20:35 to 03:52
Dark for 7h 16m
Moon phase on Wed 27th Aug

Wed 27th Aug

Waxing Crescent
14 % illuminated
Dark from 20:33 to 03:54
Dark for 7h 20m
Moon phase on Thu 28th Aug

Thu 28th Aug

Waxing Crescent
21 % illuminated
Dark from 20:30 to 03:56
Dark for 7h 25m
Moon phase on Fri 29th Aug

Fri 29th Aug

Waxing Crescent
29 % illuminated
Dark from 20:35 to 03:59
Dark for 7h 24m
Moon phase on Sat 30th Aug

Sat 30th Aug

First Quarter
38 % illuminated
Dark from 20:57 to 04:01
Dark for 7h 4m
Moon phase on Sun 31st Aug

Sun 31st Aug

First Quarter
48 % illuminated
Dark from 21:29 to 04:03
Dark for 6h 34m

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

  • Carolian Astronomy Society meeting

    Wednesday 10th September 2025 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    King Charles School, Kidderminster, DY10 1XA (28.6 miles away)

    More info

  • Marches Astronomy Group meeting

    Friday 12th September 2025 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    The Banc - Knighton, Knighton, LD7 1BL (16.6 miles away)

    More info

  • Mid-Wales Astronomy Society meeting and observing

    Saturday 13th September 2025 from 19:00pm to 21:00pm

    Plas Dolerw, Newtown, SY16 2EH (19.8 miles away)

    More info

  • Perton Library Astronomy Group Meeting

    Thursday 18th September 2025 from 19:00pm to 21:00pm

    Perton Library, Perton, WV6 7QU (27.6 miles away)

    More info

  • Shropshire Astronomical Society meeting and stargazing

    Saturday 20th September 2025 from 19:30pm to 22:00pm

    Rodington Village Hall, Shrewsbury, SY4 4QS (15.7 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 (5.9 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

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  • Bircher Farm Stud

    Bircher, Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 0BS, West Midlands England (18.3 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

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  • Llanfair Caereinion Hill Huts

    Meln-Y-Grug, Llanfair Caereinion, Powys, SY21 0HD, Wales (24.0 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

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  • Alkington Grange Barns

    Alkington, Whitchurch, Shropshire, SY13 3NH (27.5 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

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  • The Sheep Shed

    Llanrhaeadr, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Clwyd, LL20 7LF, Wales (28.3 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

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  • Lon Lodges

    Nantmel, Rhayader, Powys, LD6 5PE, Wales (29.8 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

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