Exmoor National Park
About
Located in the southwest of England in the counties of Somerset and Devon, Exmoor National Park enjoys some of the darkest skies in the country yet offers relatively easy access from urban hubs. Dark sky awareness in the park bloomed in 2009 with a variety of programs on astronomy and conservation held during UNESCO’s International Year of Astronomy.
In Exmoor, the 83 square kilometers of core zone has minimal human habitation, open land access and many points of interest. It is mostly protected moorland and includes Bronze Age burial mounds, Dunkery and Horner Wood National Nature Reserve, the deserted medieval settlement of Hoccombe Combe and a residential center for outdoor learning. Exmoor National Park Authority works with residents, local businesses and the two counties on dark-sky issues. An annual dark skies festival takes place every autumn.
Designated
2011
Category
Dark Sky Reserve
Address
North Devon, England
Google Maps
Contact
Julie Layzell
Website
Stargazing & Events
Dark Sky Telescope Hire
Land Area
181 km2
Documents
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