http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7967968.stm
Point number 6 says. 6. KEPT IN THE DARK
For a city dweller, used to a constant fog of light, it can be a rare treat to sleep in undisturbed treacly darkness. It's becoming more and more difficult to find. There are light polluted skies outside - and the insides of homes are overflowing with light-emitting gadgets. Kielder in Northumberland is claimed as having the darkest skies left in England.
Glen,
A few little problems. Northumberland is allegedly dark because it is in a national park. Autumn and spring would be the best time to observe, as summer nighttime hours are a wee too short, and absolutely pitifully miserable in winter. Not a terribly fun place to visit though, oddly undulating country, and fairly exposed to the North Sea, but it does have lots of castles though. Of course the area is popular because of Hadrian's Wall. Also Kieldel Water is fairly extensive in area, and the western side of this lake is probably best. Also I thought Kieldel was almost in Cumbria and Scotland?
Looking a night-time images, the area in the north of Scotland and the Devon on the south-western side of England are probably the darkest. My own experience, and probably the best observing conditions I've seen in the last decade or two, was from Sidmouth. 6.5 limited magnitude and unheard of seeing conditions.
is sleeping away from transmission lines & other harmful irradiation (which can be caused by landslides, underground streamlines, etc)!
Believe me,
cheers Nev
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