ANYBODY who wants to take part in this year’s Exmoor Dark Skies Festival events is being urged to book their place as soon as possible.

Exmoor National Park Authority rural enterprise co-ordinator Julie Colman said this autumn’s events were filling up and people should act quickly to avoid disappointment.

The festival, which last year attracted more than 2,500 visitors, is in its eighth year and features more than 50 activities showcasing the night sky over Exmoor, which became Europe’s first designated dark sky reserve in 2011.

It will run from Friday, October 18, to Sunday, November 3, and Ms Colman said the stargazing events would suit all ages and abilities.

The 267 square miles of Exmoor has minimal light pollution and on a cloudless night people can see with the naked eye many thousands of stars and astronomical sights, such as the Milky Way.

Ms Colman said: “We highly recommend booking this month to avoid disappointment.

“The popular printed programme is available from National Park Centres and information centres all over Greater Exmoor, or you can download an e-version from www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/stargazing.

“Visitors and residents love looking through the programme, which has lots of inspiring images of the dark skies over Exmoor.

“There is everything from ranger-led dark skies walks, a gin and stargazing evening, space detectives, a children’s story writing competition, and lots of planetarium sessions at Minehead and South Molton.”

There were also active adventures, contemplative experiences, and talks on the value of night skies for wildlife, human health, and its ‘sheer beauty’.

Ms Colman said Professor Roger Davies, of Oxford University, was returning for an inspirational talk titled ‘The search for distant worlds: the incredible story of the discovery of planets beyond the Solar System’.

Stargazing events would be held in the national park’s dark sky discovery hubs in Exford Bridge Tea Rooms and The Poltimore Inn, North Molton, and a family astro party would be hosted by Horner Farm.

Ms Colman said: “If the skies are clear, then the views at this year’s dark sky festival will be amazing, but even in the damp and mist, it is a dramatic, memorable experience.”

Events are spread all over the national park with some run by the park authority and others by businesses and organisations.

The 2024 festival will run across Exmoor Day on Saturday, October 19, when there will also be celebrations to mark the 70th anniversary of Exmoor being designated a national park.

There are nearly 20 accredited ‘dark sky friendly businesses’ offering accommodation locally for visitors, all of which have received dark skies training and understand the importance of Exmoor's night skies and why they need protecting, and can help visitors make the most of their stay with advice and stargazing equipment and resources available for use.

More details of the 2024 festival, how to become involved, and where to stay can be obtained by emailing [email protected].

There is also a festival website which can be found here.