Cumbria Dark Skies Festival continues with November stargazing events

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 31 Oct, 06:09 · Archive

Cumbria's Dark Skies Festival runs until November 20 with stargazing, canoeing and guided walks.

The Cumbria Dark Skies Festival is continuing across Cumbria during November, with a series of events designed to celebrate the county's dark skies. The festival runs until November 20 and includes stargazing, night-time walks, canoeing and astronomy-inspired events.

Dark sky canoeing sessions are taking place on Coniston Water and Wastwater with Path to Adventure. Friends of the Lake District are running a Dark Skies Guided Walk & Stargaze event in Kendal on November 19. A guided dark skies walk with JAG Outdoors will take place at Whinlatter Forest on November 7. A Dark Skies Weekend is planned at Calvert Lakes, near Keswick, from November 13 to 15, featuring stargazing and astronomy-inspired activities. Grizedale Observatory is also part of the festival, with planetarium and astronomy experiences available.

The Cumbria Dark Skies Festival is designed to showcase a different side of the county, giving people reasons to visit in the quieter autumn and winter months. Activities available include guided stargazing sessions, evening paddles, woodland walks and stays under clearer skies.

The festival also highlights the importance of dark skies for wildlife. Natural darkness plays an important role for many species, including insects, bats, birds and mammals.

Francine Bult, senior marketing executive at Cumbria Tourism, said: 'Cumbria's dark skies are a real part of what makes the county special, particularly in the quieter autumn and winter months.' Last year's festival generated PR reach of more than 85 million, showing the level of interest in Cumbria's dark skies and the experiences built around them.

How it is being reported

• Stargazing and canoeing as dark skies festival continuesThe Cumbria Dark Skies Festival returns this autumn, with a growing programme of events giving visitors and residents the chance to experience the county after dark.Cumberland News · 31 Oct, 05:00
• Stargazing and canoeing as dark skies festival continuesThe Cumbria Dark Skies Festival returns this autumn, with a growing programme of events giving visitors and residents the chance to experience the county after dark.Whitehaven News · 31 Oct, 05:00
• Stargazing and canoeing as dark skies festival continuesThe Cumbria Dark Skies Festival returns this autumn, with a growing programme of events giving visitors and residents the chance to experience the county after dark.Westmorland Gazette · 31 Oct, 05:00
• Stargazing and canoeing as dark skies festival continuesThe Cumbria Dark Skies Festival returns this autumn, with a growing programme of events giving visitors and residents the chance to experience the county after dark.NW Evening Mail · 31 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Cumbria · Lake District · Cumbria Tourism · Path to Adventure · Friends of the Lake District · JAG Outdoors · Grizedale Observatory · Francine Bult

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