Starry-eyed: Top UK locations for hot tub stargazing

As the winter nights drop in temperature, many Brits look to travel abroad in search of the summer sun and escape the big freeze. However, we believe that the UK can be an equally excellent holiday destination during the colder months. Stargazing is best enjoyed as the nights grow longer, and with the UK being home to 18 Dark Sky Reserves*, there is no better place to appreciate the night sky than from the comfort of a backyard. We’ve therefore combined two popular outdoor activities, hot tubs and stargazing, to curate a list of the top 10 UK destinations for a starry-eyed winter warming retreat.

To rank the locations, our travel experts used data from the International Dark-Sky Association, as well as internal property information on holiday homes with a hot tub. The Dark Sky Locations were cross-referenced with the internal data to find out which locations had the highest number of properties with a hot tub ~30 min drive away. By tallying up all the results, Bodmin Moor came out in the top spot, making the Cornish coast the ultimate hot tub friendly stargazing location.

Our travel experts have created a map of the top 10 stargazing locations in the UK. Each Dark Sky Reserve is pinpointed and linked to hot-tub properties within a 30-minute drive, in order to make finding somewhere to stay that much easier.

The top 10 locations are:

Since global light pollution has already increased by at least 49% over the past 25 years*, scientists warn the chance to enjoy unpolluted skies may be limited. Additionally, Google Trends search term data indicates that searches for hot tub hire have increased by 550% and searches for 'dark sky near me' have rocketed by 400%.

All three Welsh locations made it into the top five, meaning that Wales has the largest number of properties with hot tubs located near Dark Sky Reserves. The Brecon Beacons reached the second spot where visitors can enjoy views of the Milky Way, major constellations, nebulas (bright clouds of gas and dust) and even meteor showers. Following up in third, Elan Valley offers the best chances of seeing the cosmos, whilst fourth place Snowdonia National Park can provide sights of all the major constellations, nebulas and shooting stars.

Matthew Fox, CEO of the Snaptrip Group, said:

"With the winter months well and truly underway here in the UK, we know that the types of holidays people are looking for has changed, and although some Brits may still be looking for a hot, summer getaway, we know that the majority are dreaming of a cosy winter hideaway this festive season."

So, to help UK holiday-makes find the perfect getaway this winter, we decided to create a ranking of the best spots in Britain for stargazing, without catching a chill! Our hope is that anyone looking to detox in some of the most beautiful landscapes Britain has to offer can use our list to plan their next staycation".

*https://www.darksky.org/our-work/conservation/idsp/finder

**https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/16/3311/htm

**The number of properties featured on the map is based on a search for a 3-night stay on January 7th, 2022, and is correct at the time of the issue.

Map references

• https://www.darksky.org/our-work/conservation/idsp/finder
• www.darksky.org
• www.breconbeacons.org
• www.discoveryinthedark.wales
• www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/discover/dark-skies
• www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/enjoying/stargazing
• www.visitcairngorms.com/things-to-do/nature-wildlife/dark-skies-park
• www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/things-to-do/get-outdoors/stargazing
• www.cranbornechase.org.uk/our-work/dark-night-skies
• www.southdowns.gov.uk/communications/internation-dark-sky-reserve-festival