Away from city lights, the skies over North Norfolk are properly dark. On a clear, moonless night you can see the Milky Way, and two of the nearest places to watch are Dark Sky Discovery Sites, the first on the Norfolk coast.
Good to know
- Wiveton Downs, above Glandford about fifteen minutes away, and Kelling Heath Holiday Park both have the top, two-star rating: on a clear night you can see the seven stars of Orion and the Milky Way with the naked eye.
- Check the moon before you go: the darkest nights are around the new moon.
- Take a red torch, warm layers and something to sit on; the ground at Wiveton Downs is uneven.
- Autumn and winter bring the longest nights, and the Perseid meteor shower peaks in mid-August.
Our pick
Glandford
Wiveton Downs
A Dark Sky Discovery Site on the ridge above Glandford, with the top two-star rating: on a clear, moonless night you can see the Milky Way. By day it’s a good short walk. After dark, take a red torch; the ground is uneven.
Kelling
Kelling Heath
Heathland and pine woods on the ridge above Weybourne, purple with heather in August, with views out to sea. Good walking, and a favourite with dogs. Kelling Heath Holiday Park, on the heath, is a Dark Sky Discovery Site.