Top 10 Places to go Stargazing
Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park offers some of the most stunning locations to experience the night sky in its full glory. All these places will be very dark after sunset.
Usk Reservoir
The car park and dam wall at beautiful Usk reservoir are ideal to walk from in the day, and to enjoy outstanding dark skies at night.
Drive in from Trecastle, the site is protected by hills from the light pollution of the South Wales valleys.
Expert Stargazers: limiting magnitude 6.4
Co-ordinates: OS grid SN 835285
Lat/Long N51.56.58 W03.41.55
Crai Reservoir
The A4607 road winds along remote valleys offering views of the stars above the reservoir.
Choose a layby to park and set up telescopes.
Expert stargazers: limiting magnitude 6.37
Co-ordinates: OS grid SN 886210
Lat/Long N51.54.52 W03.35.12
Llanthony Priory
Atmospheric and beautiful, with the ruins of Llanthony Priory in front of you, you can gaze up to the skies above mighty Hatterrall Hill.
Ruins close to the public from 4pm onwards, but site owners are happy for stargazers to use the carpark
Please be aware there is a hotel onsite where the owners live, please keep noise to a minimum and stargaze from the car park.
Expert stargazers: limiting magnitude of 6.35
Co-ordinates: OS grid ref SO 288278
lat/long N51.56.41 W03.02.11
Hay Bluff
Drive from Hay-on-Wye towards Gospel Pass to Hay Bluff car park, overlooking the Wye valley. The wide sky view opens in front of you from Pen-y-Fan, across the Wye Valley, into Shropshire to the distant north-west.
Expert stargazers: limiting magnitude of 6.34
Co-ordinates: OS grid: SO 239373
lat/long N 52.01.43 W03.06.34
Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park Visitor Centre (Mountain Centre)
Our Visitor Centre site has been popular with stargazers for a decade, and it is ideal for telescope setups.
Please note the centre is closed at night.
Expert stargazers: limiting magnitude of 6.37 .
Co-ordinates Grid ref SN 978264
lat/long N51.56.02 W 03.28.40
Pen Rhiw Ddu
Find the car park on the winding road over the Black Mountain between Llandeilo and Brynamman for a great location looking out into the darkness of Mid and West Wales.
expert stargazers: limiting magnitude of 6.31
co-ordinates OS grid ref SN 730192
lat/long N51.51.13 W03.50.31
Carreg Cennen Castle
Another atmospheric venue, the wonderful castle at Carreg Cennen sitting atop a huge limestone cliff offers breath-taking views across the valley to the west and one of the darkest skies in the region
Expert stargazers: limiting magnitude of 6.26.
SN 668193 N51.51.12. W03.56.02
Craig-y-Nos Country Park
Home to nocturnal wildlife, rich in history, the open meadow areas are great for stargazing.
The car park closes at 5.30 but you can park in a layby along the road to access the Country Park
expert stargazers: limiting magnitude of 6.30.
Co-ordinates: SN 840161
lat/lon N51.50.16 W03.40.29
Sugar Loaf Mountain
The iconic Sugar Loaf mountain offers wide views along the valleys that surround it. Park in the National Trust car park
expert stargazers: limiting magnitude of 6.10,
coordinates: OS grid ref SO 268167
lat/long N51.50.30 W03.03.34
Llangorse Lake
Another gorgeous location with multiple spots for telescope setups. Wildlife abounds in the reeds of the largest natural lake in South Wales.
Expert star gazers: limiting magnitude of 6.24.
Co-ordinates SO 127270
lat/long N51.56.07 W03.16.13
