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As autumn nights draw in and the skies overhead grow ever darker, there’s nothing quite like the North Pennines to remind you just how expansive the universe feels.
From 22 October to 2 November 2025, the 9th annual North Pennines Stargazing Festival returns - and this year’s programme, featuring nearly thirty events, promises something for everyone: guided night-sky tours, meteor-watching, cosmic storytelling, astrophotography workshops, and even night-runs under the Milky Way. For anyone craving a fresh connection with the night sky - this is your moment.
The North Pennines National Landscape (also a UNESCO Global Geopark) is often touted as the darkest mainland area in England. With minimal light pollution and sweeping moorland vistas, you get true clarity - Orion, Milky Way bands, distant nebulae, meteor showers - all without travelling overseas. It’s this rare combination of remoteness, natural beauty and accessibility that makes the festival so special.
2025 Highlights & Opportunities
This year’s programme is rich, varied and designed to welcome everyone from curious first-timers to seasoned sky watchers. A few events that stand out:
- Stargazing on the Weardale Railway (Stanhope): an atmospheric opener on 22 October, combining a ride and night-sky experience.
- The Orionid Meteor Shower at Grassholme Observatory on the same evening - a chance to see meteors under pristine conditions.
- Introduction to Astrophotography at Carrshield Village Hall (27 Oct): perfect if you’ve ever wanted to capture the cosmos but didn’t know where to begin.
- Family-friendly evenings: “Stars & Songs” at Bowlees Farm, family stargazing sessions at High Force - events that combine warmth, community, and the night skies.
- Dark Skies Run (Bowlees Visitor Centre, 29 Oct): Take a trail under the stars, led by experienced runners, across the High Force & Bowlees Geotrail.
- Pies & Skies at The Hive at Nenthead (1 November): Astronomy talk with hearty supper - always a crowd-pleaser (and a MagNorth personal favourite).
Spotlight Event: Stargazing at Alston Moor Golf Club
One of this year’s most eagerly anticipated evenings takes place on Saturday 25 October, at the newly upgraded Alston Moor Golf Club Observatory on Middleton-in-Teesdale Road, Alston (CA9 3DB).
Running from 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm (arrive between 6.30 pm and 7.00 pm), the event offers visitors a first look at the refurbished observatory, featuring two brand-new presentations from respected astronomers Andy Gray and Dr Jürgen Schmoll.
Part of the wider festival, this promises a truly immersive evening both inside and outside the clubhouse. Attendees can expect a full programme of talks, hands-on stargazing, and guided use of the club’s new telescopes and 20 shared sets of binoculars — no need to bring your own.
The site itself is already certified as having Milky Way-level darkness, making it one of the best local vantage points for observing the heavens. And if the weather doesn’t cooperate, indoor presentations and displays will continue inside the clubhouse’s conference room - with the bar open for refreshments throughout.
Tickets are £12 per adult and £8 for children aged 14+(accompanied by an adult). Capacity is limited to just 40 people, so early booking is essential.
To reserve your place, email David Hymers atdavid@davidhymers.com or call 07483 327 560for the PayPal booking link via the newly launched Alston Moor Observatory website.
New Additions for 2025
This year, organisers have broadened the festival’s reach - offering more accessible events, flexible pricing, and venues across a wider area. From grassroots astronomy talks to community observatory nights, the focus is firmly on inclusivity and curiosity.
Looking Up, Together
The North Pennines Stargazing Festival isn’t just about stars - it’s about belonging. It’s about neighbours and visitors gathering around telescopes under a (hopefully) spectacular night sky, sharing stories, and rediscovering that quiet awe we all feel when the Milky Way spills across the sky.
So pack your thermos, wrap up warm, and find your very own patch of darkness. The universe is waiting - and in the North Pennines this October, it’s closer than ever. The festival is your chance to slow down, look up, and share that sense of wonder.
For the very latest details on the festival CLICK HERE
Header Image: Astronomy and Stargazing at Grassholme Observatory
