London dark site

[8324689]

Does anybody know a dark site near to London?

I have seen the South Downs advertised as dark skies but on my app it seem to be bortle 5 (green is bortle 4)

 

I am in North London so north is better to save time. 
 

any help pls!?

[8324689]

I had also read that somewhere in Epping Forest is quite dark but the information seems to change year-on-year

[8324689]

(I’m in Hackney)

[Nik271]

This is a very good source of info on light pollution https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/#zoom=7.66&lat=51.5869&lon=-0.3370&layers=B0FFFFFTFFFFFFFFFF 

South Downs is Bortle 4 according to the World Atlas data from 2015.

For north-west London I can recommend the Chiltern hills just off the M40.

North or northeast London - some places off A1 beyond Stevenage looks reasonably dark (Bortle 4 at best), but I haven't been there. 

[Tiny Clanger]

24 minutes ago, 8324689 said:

I had also read that somewhere in Epping Forest is quite dark but the information seems to change year-on-year

Would that be the traditional 'a shallow grave in Epping Forest ' I used to read about in the papers ?😀

[8324689]

25 minutes ago, Nik271 said:

This is a very good source of info on light pollution https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/#zoom=7.66&lat=51.5869&lon=-0.3370&layers=B0FFFFFTFFFFFFFFFF 

South Downs is Bortle 4 according to the World Atlas data from 2015.

For north-west London I can recommend the Chiltern hills just off the M40.

North or northeast London - some places off A1 beyond Stevenage looks reasonably dark (Bortle 4 at best), but I haven't been there. 

Yes I think off near to Bishops Storford is geographically best for me.

I am hoping to set off 5pm and be back at 2am or so....

Funny depends where you look say diff info

 

 

[8324689]

12 minutes ago, Tiny Clanger said:

Would that be the traditional 'a shallow grave in Epping Forest ' I used to read about in the papers ?😀

Hhahah well actually I remember the place I read about was a notorious [removed word] and boy racer car park in the middle of the forest so not too far off I suppose

[AlexK]

The effect of a dense forest location is simple: it allows your eyes to dark adapt deeper with no artificial lights in direct view. The light dome above you is still uber bright. So instead of sacrificing the horizon seeking for such a location I would instead look for a high rise location to poke above the megapolis smog and to leave all lights well down below (I'm doing exactly that on the roof of my 15 story condo complex when desperate to see something before the usual New Moon weekend trip to the really dark location). In fact, if you've got a 8-12" aperture, you can learn "intensive darkness adaptation preservation techniques" and stay at home with nearly the same result as observing from at least a green LPZ (colored Light Pollution Zone on these charts).

Edited December 29, 2020 by AlexK

[8324689]

Valid point but next to impossible unfortunately in my case

[saac]

19 hours ago, 8324689 said:

Does anybody know a dark site near to London?

I have seen the South Downs advertised as dark skies but on my app it seem to be bortle 5 (green is bortle 4)

 

I am in North London so north is better to save time. 
 

any help pls!?

Looking at your light pollution map I think the best you could hope for is experimenting with light pollution filters. For a truly darker sky and the targets that would then be in your reach you are going to need to travel.  Don't lose faith though there have been some amazing photographs posted on SGL from folk living in London and the surrounding area (they have put me to shame).  I think it's all about experimenting, being realistic with your targets and using those filters.  The only area I could suggest would maybe in the Fens in East Anglia; don't know how accessible that area is to you !  I used to live in Warboys and the surrounding night sky was generally quite decent, nice low horizons as well. Good luck. 

Jim 

Edited December 30, 2020 by saac

[newbie alert]

I used to work in buntingford,  which is straight up the A10, a friend who lives in between buntingford and Royston  says he's at bortle 4.. I used to image more towards Stevenage as more than often I used to stay in premier inn at Stevenage north.. I'd guess that it was around bortle 4.. plenty dark enough to see the milky way vividly..worth the drive from Hackney! ( which is very close to where I was born)

[carastro]

If you're North London, some of the Sussex coast line has good skies.  This campsite comes much recommended so this is the sort of area to aim for.  Try to get a look at a dark sky map.  I have never been to them but have had them recommended by some reliable sources. 

https://suffolkcamping.webs.com/

Also this one

http://www.hawwoodfarm.co.uk/finding-us/

[newbie alert]

39 minutes ago, carastro said:

If you're North London, some of the Sussex coast line has good skies.  This campsite comes much recommended so this is the sort of area to aim for.  Try to get a look at a dark sky map.  I have never been to them but have had them recommended by some reliable sources. 

https://suffolkcamping.webs.com/

Also this one

http://www.hawwoodfarm.co.uk/finding-us/

Thats Suffolk Carole,  Sussex is the other direction 

[City9Town0]

Westleton/Darsham is good for a dark(ish) sky.

[carastro]

Quote

Thats Suffolk Carole,  Sussex is the other direction 

Yes, forgot to amend the original post when I realised the campsites were in Suffolk, but I think there are also some dark locations in Essex as well on the coast.

Carole 

[8324689]

Thanks for this everyone. Yes indeed the idea is to get out in the early evening come back late and up for time with the kids for school!!

 

[8324689]

On 02/01/2021 at 10:01, newbie alert said:

I used to work in buntingford,  which is straight up the A10, a friend who lives in between buntingford and Royston  says he's at bortle 4.. I used to image more towards Stevenage as more than often I used to stay in premier inn at Stevenage north.. I'd guess that it was around bortle 4.. plenty dark enough to see the milky way vividly..worth the drive from Hackney! ( which is very close to where I was born)

yes so it’s this area I’m thinking of probably best for me .... Stevenage etc

 

If anyone knows a decent preferably high altitude  car park or something please let me know!!

 

 

[SStanford]

On 29/12/2020 at 17:11, 8324689 said:

I am in North London so north is better to save time. 

I'm based in North London too. 

There's a highly recommended dark site at the ruislip lido, link below. Hoping to go there when it warms up a bit!

https://www.google.com/amp/s/gostargazing.co.uk/events/locations/ruislip-lido/%3famp

[8324689]

8 hours ago, SStanford said:

I'm based in North London too. 

There's a highly recommended dark site at the ruislip lido, link below. Hoping to go there when it warms up a bit!

https://www.google.com/amp/s/gostargazing.co.uk/events/locations/ruislip-lido/%3famp

Thanks for this! 
it is actually equidistant (1hr) to Stevenage which has a better bortal rating so I might go for Stevenage! 

Edited January 5, 2021 by 8324689