Visit Lake District - Cumbria Dark Skies lineup
🌌 Cumbria Dark Skies Adventures Near The Yan
If there’s one thing the Lakes does better than most places in the UK, it’s darkness - the good kind. The twinkly, peaceful, wide-open-sky kind. And every year, the Cumbria Dark Skies Festival celebrates just how magical our night skies really are.
Running from 24th October to 21st November 2025, the festival brings a whole constellation of events to the Lake District. Think stargazing walks, night-time canoe paddles, forest adventures, astronomy talks and chances to switch off (literally) and look up.
Below are some of our favourite events happening right on our doorstep here in Grasmere.
✨ Kendal Dark Skies Walk
📍 Kendal
📅 19th November 2025
🔗 Hosted by Friends of the Lake District
👉 https://www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/Event/dark-skies-walk
Join Jack Ellerby for a gentle 0.5-mile guided walk around Kendal to explore dark-sky friendly lighting projects and learn how good lighting protects wildlife, landscapes and our own night vision.
Perfect for anyone who loves nature, clear skies or simply enjoys a slow easy wander with something interesting to learn along the way.
Free for members, £5 suggested donation for non-members.
🌌 Coniston Dark Skies Canoe Adventure
📍 Coniston Water
📅 Multiple dates: 14 & 15 Nov 2025, 22 Nov 2025, Feb 2026 dates
👉 Night canoeing under Cumbria’s clearest skies
If you fancy something a bit more adventurous, this is one you’ll be talking about for years. Start paddling in the daylight, glide across Coniston Water as the sun drops behind the fells and then watch the sky transform into a glittering dome of stars.
Expect:
⭐ Hot chocolate stops
⭐ Constellation spotting
⭐ Stories and mythology
⭐ A chance to see the Milky Way with the naked eye
Canoes fit two people, and if you’re nervous on the water, they can be rafted together for extra stability.
Minimum age 12+.
⭐ Why We Love Dark Skies Season at The Yan
You don’t need to know every constellation or own a telescope to enjoy the festival. You just need warm layers, a sense of adventure and maybe a pudding waiting back at the Bistro.
The Lake District has some of the darkest skies in Britain, meaning on a clear night you can see thousands of stars - not the thirty you get under city lights. This is your invitation to slow down, breathe in real fresh air and see the Lakes like never before.