This week has been about celebrating our Dark Skies Area at River View Pateley. Our cosy Dales holiday cottages did not host any events for the Dark Skies Festival this year, but we were able to enjoy the stars in our own quiet way. Sitting on the patio with a warm blanket wrapped around us, a cup of hot chocolate in our hands and the star maps on our laps, we have been trying to identify the secrets of the late January heavens.
Long nights are a treat because they show a dome full of stars above us. The brightest - Orian's belt and the North Star - are the easiest to spot, but look just a few more moments and the smaller lights in the sky reveal themselves. Dark Skies in the UK are a cool, clear affair, available as early as 6pm. On a frosty night, they throw a crisp shine on the trees and the grasses and the full moon lights up the paths in a pale glow that makes walking really pleasant.
If January is all about New Year resolutions and efforts to tighten our belts, February is about release and relaxation. Spring is around the corner, the days are getting longer and the first batch of snowdrops signals renewal. In amongst all this, it's important to celebrate the darkened evenings before summer dims the stars. If you would like to enjoy this special time of year, check out our calendar using the link below.
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