Parts of the UK offer superb stargazing potential on clear nights, and several of our hostels — including the four YHAs listed here — have Dark Skies kits for guest hire. The kits include monoculars, red-light torches, night sky guides, tarps to lie on, and more.Â
YHA Grinton Lodge
First built as a hunting lodge back in 1817, this Yorkshire Dales property enjoys the kind of plum countryside location that traditional hostelling is all about. The southern slopes of Swaledale spread out in all directions, while the picturesque village of Grinton is just a 10-minute wander away. Hillwalking guests will be in their element, with plenty of bracing day walks beginning direct from the hostel door (don’t miss the moorland views on the 10-mile Whitaside Moor Loop), and this is also famed territory for both road cyclists and mountain bikers.
And when the sun goes down? Make the most of the Dales setting by wrapping up warm and heading outside. When there’s little cloud cover, the relative lack of artificial light serves up a galactic overhead treat. Some 30% of the Yorkshire Dales National Park has gained official recognition as an International Dark Sky Reserve — the largest in the UK, no less — and the hostel’s Swaledale location is among the best.
The 50-bed property is available on Exclusive Hire over the winter months, with individual bookings welcomed from late February onwards. Camping pods and camping pitches are also on offer in spring, summer and early autumn.
Stay at YHA Grinton Lodge
YHA DartmoorÂ
This moorland hostel’s selling points come as thick and fast as a meteor shower. There’s the location, for one — tucked away down a singletrack road on the fringes of Bellever Forest in the heart of Dartmoor National Park — then there’s the hostel itself, which occupies a characterful barn complex dating back to the 1930s. Expect exposed stone walls, a woodburner, and a general sense of being far from the hustle and bustle of the 9-to-5. For ramblers, climbers and cyclists, it’s a glorious setting. It’s also well placed for visiting the South Devon Railway, an award-winning vintage steam train service.
After sundown, the low-slung moorland translates into the most atmospheric of stages for stargazing, with the calls of nightjars and the hoots of tawny owls often providing a soundtrack in the darkness. As with many of our hostels, the property can be booked on Exclusive Hire until mid-March, when individual guests can then take their pick from a selection of private rooms. Camping is also available, and with this being a dog-friendly option here at YHA Dartmoor, you can even stargaze with your four-legged friends.
Stay at YHA Dartmoor
YHA Brecon Beacons Danywenallt
The Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park is a special place at any time of the year, covering 520 square miles of peaks, ridges, waterfalls and woodlands. Tucked into the folds of the park on the banks of the Talybont Reservoir you’ll find this ever-popular hostel with its farmhouse stonework, old fireplace and sturdy wooden beams. From here, the delights of the Brecon Beacons — from show caves to stand-up paddleboarding — are readily explored, with hiking and biking routes stretching off to all corners.
The Brecon Beacons National Park has been an International Dark Sky Reserve since 2012, a designation which means not only does it offer exceptional starry nights but it also has specific protection for minimising light pollution. The hostel itself is available on Exclusive Hire year-round, with a total of 39 beds and perks that include a log-burning stove and a ready welcome for dogs. And if the weather’s not playing ball, the award-winning Llangorse Multi Activity Centre is just a couple of miles away, offering indoor rock climbing and bouldering, high-level cargo nets and even a huge indoor zip line.
Stay at YHA Brecon Beacons Danywenallt
YHA South Downs
It’s now been almost 12 years since YHA South Downs opened its doors in East Sussex, and this farmhouse hostel still sets the standard when it comes to location. Sitting right on the famous South Downs Way — the 100-mile-long National Trail that snakes along the chalk escarpments of the South Downs — it also has substantial grounds of its own. Climbing, biking and rambling are all big draws, and if you need a bit of urban buzz to complement the outdoor scenery, Brighton is just 25 minutes away by rail.
But while the seaside city provides a definite sparkle of its own, nothing compares to the twinkling eternity of the night sky, and the South Downs National Park is another to be designated as an International Dark Sky Reserve. It even holds its own annual Dark Skies Festival — the 25th edition in 2025 will take place between 13th and 23rd February — and guests at the hostel can, as elsewhere, hire out a Dark Skies kit. Shared rooms, private rooms, camping pods and a premium bell tent are all on offer, as is the chance to hire the whole 27-bed farmhouse.
Stay at YHA South Downs
Photo credit: Arthur Cauty / Adobe Stock
