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Swinsty and Fewston Reservoir Car Park

Swinsty and Fewston Reservoir Car Park

Fewston, Otley, North Yorkshire, HG3 1ST

Best time to visit

Publicly accessible stargazing location as suggested on the Nidderdale AONB website.

Swinsty and Fewston Reservoir 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

  • 07/05/26

    13° 19%

  • 07/05/26

    13° 13%

  • 07/05/26

    12° 18%

  • 08/05/26

    10° 10%

Weather forecast for Ilkley (5.7 miles away) updated 06/05/26 at 12:01. Powered by Met Office data.

Local light pollution

Swinsty and Fewston Reservoir Car Park 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 Swinsty and Fewston Reservoir 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 Thu 7th May

Thu 7th May

Waning Gibbous
77 % illuminated
Dark from 21:31 to 01:34
Dark for 4h 2m
Moon phase on Fri 8th May

Fri 8th May

Third Quarter
68 % illuminated
Dark from 21:34 to 01:51
Dark for 4h 17m
Moon phase on Sat 9th May

Sat 9th May

Third Quarter
59 % illuminated
Dark from 21:36 to 02:04
Dark for 4h 27m
Moon phase on Sun 10th May

Sun 10th May

Third Quarter
49 % illuminated
Dark from 21:39 to 02:14
Dark for 4h 34m
Moon phase on Mon 11th May

Mon 11th May

Third Quarter
39 % illuminated
Dark from 21:42 to 02:21
Dark for 4h 38m
Moon phase on Tue 12th May

Tue 12th May

Waning Crescent
29 % illuminated
Dark from 21:45 to 02:18
Dark for 4h 32m
Moon phase on Wed 13th May

Wed 13th May

Waning Crescent
19 % illuminated
Dark from 21:48 to 02:15
Dark for 4h 26m

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

  • Rosse Observatory public open evening

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

    Rosse Observatory, Pontefract, WF8 3RJ (27.0 miles away)

    More info

  • Public stargazing at the Astronomy Centre

    Saturday 9th May 2026 from 18:00pm to 22:00pm

    The Astronomy Centre, Near Todmorden, OL14 7HP (25.7 miles away)

    More info

  • Bradford Astronomical Society meeting

    Monday 11th May 2026 from 19:30pm to 21:00pm

    Idle & Thackley Conservative Club, Idle, BD10 8QB (9.8 miles away)

    More info

  • Garden of Stars Astronomy Club Night

    Tuesday 12th May 2026 from 19:00pm to 21:30pm

    Stirley Nature Reserve - Garden of Stars, Huddersfield, HD4 6FA (25.1 miles away)

    More info

  • Leeds Astronomical Society meeting

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

    Quaker Meeting House - Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9DX (13.4 miles away)

    More info

Stay and gaze nearby

Stay at one of these stargazing-friendly accommodation providers.

  • Little Seed Field Glamping

    Castiles Farm, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 3PU (11.1 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Foggyshaw Lodge

    Middlesmoor, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 5ST, Yorkshire and The Humber England (14.2 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • The Bivouac – Nidderdale

    High Knowle Farm, Upper Nidderdale, North Yorkshire, HG4 4JZ (15.5 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

    More info

  • Firs Farm Bed & Breakfast

    Healey, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 4LH (16.7 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

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  • The Old Dairy – Masham

    Wellgarth Court, Masham, North Yorkshire, HG4 4EN, Yorkshire and The Humber England (17.1 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

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  • Granny House Holiday Cottage

    Bell Busk, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 4DU (17.3 miles away)

    Stay & Gaze

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