Exmoor Dark Skies Festival 2026: Your Guide to Stargazing from Woodleigh Cottage, Dulverton
Crisp autumn nights, blazing stars, and a warm log fire waiting when you get home – that's the recipe for a perfect stay on Exmoor this October. From Friday 16 October to Sunday 1 November 2026, Exmoor National Park celebrates the tenth anniversary of the Exmoor Dark Skies Festival, with over 50 events spread across the moor. And there's no better base for it than Woodleigh Cottage, tucked just a minute's walk from the centre of Dulverton – the 'Gateway to Exmoor National Park.'
A Decade of Dark Skies
Exmoor was one of the first places in the world to be designated an International Dark Sky Reserve, and its festival has grown into one of the standout events on the UK stargazing calendar. This year's programme brings together astronomers, rangers, wildlife experts and local businesses for a genuinely eclectic mix: guided stargazing walks, planetarium sessions, astrophotography workshops, night hikes, wildlife encounters, family craft sessions and even a few unexpected extras like sunset sea dips and saunas under the stars.
Whether you're travelling with binoculars and a star chart or simply want to see the Milky Way properly for the first time, there's something on the programme for you.
Dulverton: Right in the Heart of the Action
Staying at Woodleigh Cottage puts you within easy reach of the festival's western hub around Dulverton and the surrounding valleys. A few highlights taking place right on your doorstep this year include:
"When the Sky Falls" – A Human History of Shooting Stars (24 October) – a walk-and-talk with writer Jade Angeles Fitton through the woods around Seven Fables in Dulverton, exploring how shooting stars have shaped folklore, art and history.
"Galactic Atoms to Golden Ammonites" (28 October) – a talk at Dulverton Town Hall by geologist Grant Sherman on the surprising cosmic origins of the fossils found along the Somerset coast.
Pathway to the Planets, Meteors and Marshmallows (29 October) – a family afternoon at nearby Wimbleball Reservoir with a space-themed trail, ranger-led stargazing and a fireside talk from the Space Detectives team.
Exmoor Ponies and Wildlife at Night (29 & 30 October) – meet Exmoor's native ponies and learn about the moor's nocturnal wildlife at the Exmoor Pony Centre, a short drive from Dulverton.
For those willing to travel a little further afield, Haddon Hill above Wimbleball Reservoir, Dunkery Beacon (Exmoor's highest point), and Molland Common are all within easy reach and are among the darkest, clearest spots on the moor.
Exmoor at night photography competition winner - Laurence Liddy
Home Comforts After a Night Under the Stars
Stargazing on Exmoor means embracing the cold, clear nights that make the skies so spectacular – which is exactly why a cosy base matters. Woodleigh Cottage is built for it: a roaring log burner, exposed wooden beams, a fully-equipped kitchen and comfortable bedrooms sleeping up to four, all within a couple of minutes of Dulverton's shops, pubs and restaurants. Come back from a night of meteor-spotting and you'll be warming up by the fire in minutes rather than facing a long drive home.
It's this combination that makes Dulverton such a good festival base: close enough to walk into town for supplies or a delicious meal at Woods, The Bridge Inn or Tong Dam Thai, quiet enough that the stars overhead are genuinely dark, and central enough that the whole of Exmoor's Dark Sky Reserve is within a short drive.
How to Prepare for Your Stargazing Trip
A little preparation goes a long way on a cold night out. Before you head out from Woodleigh Cottage, it's worth packing:
A stargazing app – there are several excellent free and paid options that map the sky in real time using your phone's camera. The top 10 stargazing apps recommended by Space.com.
Binoculars or a telescope – a good pair of binoculars can reveal roughly 50 times more detail than the naked eye, and they double up nicely for daytime wildlife spotting too.
A camera and tripod – ideal if you fancy trying your hand at astrophotography, with several festival workshops on offer if you'd like some guidance.
Something comfortable to sit or lie on – a blanket or folding chair makes a big difference over a long session.
Warm, waterproof layers – Exmoor nights get properly cold, so a hat and gloves are essential.
Snacks and a flask of something hot – you'll be out longer than you think once you get absorbed in the night sky.
And don't rush it: your eyes take around 20 minutes to fully adjust to the dark, so build in time to simply stand, wait, and let the sky reveal itself.
Plan Your Stay
With the tenth-anniversary programme covering everything from astrophysics talks to nocturnal wildlife walks, the 2026 Exmoor Dark Skies Festival is the perfect excuse for an autumn break. Book Woodleigh Cottage as your base in Dulverton, check the full festival programme or download the festival brochure, and start planning which nights under the stars are calling your name.
Event dates, times and prices are correct at time of writing but may be subject to change – please check with individual event organisers before booking.
Exmoor: Gateway to the Cosmos
Help for star spotters
The Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA) which was instrumental in Exmoor acquiring its Dark Sky Reserve status, provides a useful pocket guide for residents and visitors, keen to enjoy the night sky during their stay. Download the Exmoor Dark Skies Pocket Guide for yourself.
We look forward to welcoming you and helping you enjoy your stay.
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