Stargazing
If you are an experienced astronomer with your own equipment we have a fenced flat area on the slope above the stables at the back of the house. You can set up equipment here without disturbing anyone and leave it in situ if you wish for the duration of your stay. There are other recommended sites within easy reach of Court Farm.
If you are a beginner or somebody who would like to try the experience then we have astronomical binoculars we can lend together with red light torches, show you stargazing software on our phones/tablet and help you identify things that are in the sky during your visit e.g. planets, constellations etc. Every Thursday evening from March until October there is an event at the Exmoor Bridge Tearooms which is the Dark Sky Discovery Hub for the area. The evening includes a planetarium presentation with food and a sociable chat and a chance to try out a telescope and various apps. There is an optional walk out in the Dark Sky Reserve. You will leave well equipped to enjoy Exmoor’s starry skies during your stay.
The next Exmoor Dark Sky Festival runs from Friday 17th October to Sunday 2nd November 2025 with lots of organised events. More details will be available next year from Exmoor National Park.
A few miles south of Court Farm there is a special walk on the moor with no intrusion from man-made lighting which is a great place to observe the stars. Follow this link to find out more about the Exmoor Dark Sky Discovery Trail.
You can download your free copy of an Astronomers Guide to Exmoor by Jo Richardson FRAS by clicking the link.
We look forward to sharing our amazing Dark Sky with you. You can find out more about stargazing on Exmoor from the ENPA Stargazing Page
