Stargazing & Walking Weekend – Yorkshire Dales
Discover the charms of the Yorkshire Dales by day and night on our walking and stargazing weekend. Enjoy guided walks during the day, and spend your evenings gazing at the stars with our expert guides and telescopes.
This weekend includes two nights’ accommodation, all meals, two nights of stargazing, and daytime guided walks. Experience the night sky in the Yorkshire Dales, an International Dark Sky Reserve.
Experience Type: Multi-Day Experience
Duration: 2 nights
Accommodation: Bunkhouse
Group Size: Maximum 18
Level: Leisurely Plus
Age: 18+
Dogs: No dogs, except trained assistance dogs
In a Nutshell:
Experience the Yorkshire Dales with guided walks through some of the most picturesque landscapes in the National Park.
Stargaze in an International Dark Sky Reserve, with an expert guide to lead you through the celestial wonders.
Cosy evenings in comfort with home-cooked meals, followed by stargazing right on our doorstep.
Immerse yourself in the area’s natural beauty both day and night, enjoying the tranquillity and remote feel of the Dales.
Book today…
Stargazing and Walking Weekend in the Yorkshire Dales
Discover the incredible dark skies of the Yorkshire Dales on a special weekend combining stargazing and walking. This is a unique opportunity to explore one of the UK’s most beautiful landscapes by day and look upwards to a universe of stars at night.
The Yorkshire Dales National Park is known for its wide open spaces, rolling hills, and iconic features such as the Three Peaks. During the day, our guided walks will take us through the Dales’ scenic routes, passing limestone pavements, winding rivers, and traditional stone barns. You’ll experience the tranquillity and beauty of this remote corner of the world while our expert guide shares insights into the area’s history and natural features.
But the real magic begins as darkness falls.
The Orion Nebula snapped from the North York Moors by our digital telescope. Distance 1344 light-years
With its International Dark Sky Reserve status, the Yorkshire Dales offers some of the clearest night skies in the UK. We’ll be in a prime location for stargazing, away from light pollution, giving you a chance to spot distant planets, constellations, and possibly even the Milky Way. Our dedicated star guide will be on hand to point out key features, using powerful telescopes to bring celestial wonders into view. If the weather doesn’t play along, we’ll still be treated to an engaging evening indoors, where our guide will share fascinating stories and mythology of the stars.
Each night, we’ll gather in comfort before heading outside to gaze skywards, making this weekend as much about connecting with the stars as it is about enjoying a leisurely weekend walk through the Dales.
Suggested Itinerary
Here’s what we’ve got planned - of course, we may have to offer alternatives or make amendments if the weather misbehaves or other unexpected situations arise!
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If you're coming by train, we’re offering a limited number of complimentary pickups at 6:05 pm from Ribblehead Train Station, meeting the train arriving from Leeds (with return trips on Day 3). If you’d like to make use of this service, please select it as an optional ‘Extra’ when booking.
Alternatively, you’re welcome to arrive at Broadrake from 5 pm onwards. Our team will be there to greet you with a cup of tea, giving you time to settle in before we serve dinner at 8 pm. After dinner, we’ll introduce the weekend’s plan and, if the skies are clear, head outside for our first stargazing session.
Armed with our powerful telescopes, including the advanced ‘Stellina’ digital telescope, we’ll explore the night sky, pointing out planets, constellations, and distant galaxies. The Stellina’s unique technology will even allow us to capture images of what we see, offering you a digital souvenir of the evening.
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We’ll begin the day with a hearty breakfast and pack our lunches before heading out on a guided walk. Today’s route will showcase the rugged beauty of the Yorkshire Dales, passing through rolling moorland and distinctive limestone formations. We’ll visit the iconic Ribblehead Viaduct, a striking reminder of the region’s industrial heritage, giving us time to marvel at its scale and setting.
On the way back, there’s the option to stop at the Old Hill Inn, a historic spot for a well-deserved drink, before returning to Broadrake. After relaxing at the bunkhouse, we’ll gather for a delicious evening meal.
For our second night of stargazing, we’ll again step outside under the dark skies. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, we’ll move indoors for a detailed talk on the wonders of the night sky, including tips on how to navigate the stars and the stories behind the constellations.
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After breakfast, we’ll pack up and set off on another leisurely walk, this time exploring a different part of the Dales. The route will be carefully chosen to provide a new perspective on the landscape, with more chances to soak in the natural beauty of the area.
We aim to finish by lunchtime, giving everyone plenty of time for onward travel. We hope you’ll leave feeling inspired by the scenery and with a new appreciation of the night skies above.
Additional Information: Some walks may require a short drive to reach the start point. Please note that transport is not provided unless you’ve booked the Pickup service, so car sharing is encouraged.
Essential Information
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Meeting Time: from 5pm
You can arrive any time from 5pm - the Large Outdoors host will be at the accommodation to welcome you. Dinner will be served around 8pm so if you intend to arrive later than this, please ensure you have something to eat on the way.Pickup (Day 1): We are offering a limited number of complimentary Pickups from Ribblehead Train Station at 6:05pm (to meet the train coming in from Leeds). As places are limited, please select this optional ‘Extra’ when booking, subject to availability.
Return (Day 3): If booking the Pickup, we will also return you to Ribblehead Train Station on the final day, after the walk. Please book onward travel accordingly (i.e. an open return ticket), to allow for flexibility with the return time.
Meeting Location:
Broadrake
Chapel-le-Dale
Ingleton
LA6 3AX
Please note this is not accurate for Sat Nav directions, so please follow the instructions below.Directions:
From Ingleton, take the B6255 signposted Hawes: About 4 miles out from Ingleton, go past a sign to Chapel-le-Dale Church (don't turn here).Up the hill a few hundred yards further is the Old School Bunkhouse on the left.Turn left immediately after the Bunkhouse Car Park.
The Old Hill Inn is 100yds further on the right, so if you get there you've gone too far. You are now on Philpin Lane, a single-track road heading for a farm.
Follow the lane through the farmyard then through fields for about 3/4 mile. You will cross 5 cattle grids then at the end of the metalled road and you should spot, just before what would be the 6th cattle grid, a "No Parking" notice and low-down on the right a sign for Broadrake.
Turn right here before the cattle grid following the unmade track along the side of a couple of fields and a final cattle grid on the corner to arrive at Broadrake.From Ribblehead, take the B6255 signposted Ingleton:
About 1 .5 miles from Ribblehead, pass the Old Hill Inn on the left and turn right immediately before the Old School Bunkhouse car park. It's a sharp right almost coming back on yourself.
You are now on Philpin Lane so follow the directions from there as above.(If you’ve missed the right turn at the end of the metalled road, you'll end up at Ellerbeck after 3/4 mile of rough farm track - so be careful here!)
Parking: There is free parking available at the accommodation.
Public Transport: Unfortunately, the meeting location for this Large Outdoors experience is not directly accessible by public transport. The nearest train station is Ribblehead - see Pickup option above (availability is limited and must be pre-booked).
Please Note: on some days there could be a short drive required - where activities don’t start from the door of the accommodation. We don't include transport (unless you have booked the Pickup service) and participants normally car share.
Finish Time: We aim to finish on the final day between 1pm and 3pm - the exact finish time may depend on the planned/chosen activity, group dynamic, weather conditions, whether the group chooses to grab a coffee or lunch together during/after, etc. If you’ve travelled via public transport, please ensure you book onward travel accordingly (i.e. an open return ticket), to allow for flexibility.
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We’ve taken over Broadrake, a beautiful top notch bunkhouse in the hamlet of Chapel-Le-Dale for this weekend.
The accommodation boasts a large open-plan dining and lounge area, picnic tables with breathtaking views of the Ribblehead Viaduct, and handy Wi-Fi. There’s a dedicated drying room and fantastic facilities throughout. We’re sure you’ll fall in love with the place!
Bedding is supplied in all rooms but please bring a towel and your own toiletries.
Accommodation Address:
Broadrake
Chapel-le-Dale
Ingleton
LA6 3AX
Please note this is not accurate for Sat Nav directions, so please follow the ‘Directions’ outlined in the Meeting Location & Time section.Room Types:
You can book one of the following options, subject to availability:
Bed in a Shared Female Room
Bed in a Shared Male Room
Twin Room (shared bathroom)At this hostel there are primarily Shared Rooms, where you’ll be sharing a dorm room - with bunk beds - with other participants (room sizes vary and bathrooms are shared). There are also some Twin Rooms (with two single beds), which sleep up to two participants booking together (bathrooms are shared with other rooms).
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Included:
2 nights’ accommodation at Broadrake Bunkbarn.
A Large Outdoors host/guide to welcome you, deal with meal preparation and the logistics for your experience.
Stargazing sessions on two evenings (Day 1 and Day 2), with telescopes and expert interpretation.
Guided walks on two days (Day 2 and Day 3) in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Home-cooked set 2-course dinners at the accommodation on both evenings.
A DIY breakfast each morning (toast, cereals, fruit and yoghurt provided).
A DIY packed lunch (sandwich and snacks) for Day 2’s walk.
Tea (including decaf and herbal options), coffee (including decaf option), and squash at the accommodation.
Bedding - but please bring a towel and don’t forget your own toiletries.
The chance to make new friends and meet like-minded people - Large Outdoors is all about making outdoor adventures sociable.
Pre-event support from the Large Outdoors team - give us a shout if there’s any advice or information you need and check out our Blog for useful articles too.
Not Included:
Travel to and from the meeting location.
Travel from the accommodation to activity start points and back, where they don’t start from the door. On some days there could be a short drive required - we don't include transport and participants normally car share.
Bottled water - tap water and squash are available at the accommodation, so please ensure you bring sufficient water bottles or carriers to fill up and take out with you.
Alcoholic drinks - please feel free to bring something with you to enjoy at the accommodation.
Any food, drinks or goods you choose to purchase at any shops, restaurant, pubs or cafés visited.
Travel/activity insurance - we recommend having insurance to cover, at a minimum: cancellation and curtailment; medical and emergency expenses (including repatriation); personal accident; injury and death.
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Please see our Residential (Walking) Kit List.
The compulsory items are selected for your safety, which is of paramount importance to us at Large Outdoors. Each participant should have the items listed.
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The rolling hills and well-known Yorkshire Three Peaks of the Yorkshire Dales National Park can be found rising above the tranquil villages and sheep fields of the valleys. These are some of the most iconic views of northern England. Built up over millennia at the bottom of the sea, the rocks that form the hills have since been sculpted by ice into their present forms. They now harbour unique wildlife communities and offer views that stretch over the moors of Yorkshire and west to Cumbria and the sea.
The area is popular with a range of walkers, as the lower hills can provide a gentler challenge than more mountainous regions, and the great path network will often lead you to back to a local pub or tearoom.
This map is provided for guidance regarding the general location. For detailed meeting information, please refer to the 'Meeting Time & Location' section.