Before we start I have a confession to make. The title for this blog did not come from me. It comes from a conversation I had with a very dear friend of mine Stephen Cotterell and the rest came from there.

An increasing number of our campers visit our quiet site for its dark skies. We really do have the most stunning big dark skies perfect for stargazing.

Where is it best to see the stars. If you want the best night skies without the long drive to the north, try right here in West Dorset at Old Bidlake. If you have camped here and thought the night skies were stunning and you fancy taking that experience to a whole different level then read on…

Why do we have more stars in West Dorset than a Hollywood premier?

• Here in Dorset we are blessed with some of the darkest skies in the south. Dorset enjoys dark nights across the county (Cranborne Chase to the east is an International Dark Sky Reserve), Old Bidlake Campsite in the Marshwood vail, surrounded by the hills and ridges of Pilsdon Pen, Lewesdon keep light pollution to a minimum, making it great for Milky Way views on clear autumn nights.
• Don’t just take my word. Explore Dorset’s official dark-sky info: https://www.visit-dorset.com/explore/dorset-dark-skies/ and the Dorset National Landscape dark-skies page: Dorset dark Skies Project
• Check the sky quality, pop our postcode (DT6 5PY) into a light-pollution map such as https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/ or the updated Dark Site Finder map: Dark Skies Finder to compare other spots around.

When is the best time to see dark skies?

September and October are perfect months to enjoy the night skies at Old Bidlake. The days are still mild enough for camping, the evenings draw in earlier, and the skies often turn crisp and clear after dusk. There’s something special about stepping out into the cool night air, wrapped up warm, with a hot chocolate in hand, made of course in the camper’s kitchen. Then looking up at a sky full of stars.

What You’ll See in September and October

• The Milky Way – On clear autumn nights, the Milky Way stretches overhead like a glowing ribbon. From the meadow at Old Bidlake, it feels almost touchable.
• Autumn Constellations – Pegasus, Andromeda, and Cassiopeia dominate the skies. Look for Cassiopeia’s “W” shape high above. Andromeda is home to the Andromeda Galaxy, the closest spiral galaxy to our own, visible with binoculars or even the naked eye on dark nights.
• Planets – Jupiter shines brightly in the south and east during autumn evenings, with Saturn close by. They appear as steady lights, unlike stars which twinkle.
• Meteor Showers – The Draconids peak in early October, and while they are often modest, they sometimes surprise with bursts of activity. Later in the month, the Orionids streak across the sky, leaving long glowing trails.
• Earlier Nights – Unlike midsummer stargazing, you don’t need to stay up until midnight. By 9pm in October the skies are dark enough to see the constellations clearly.

Tips for Stargazing with Your iPhone

• Use Night Mode: On iPhone 11 or later, Night Mode extends exposure time. Hold steady, or better still, use a mini tripod. If you don’t have one we are happy for you to borrow ours
• Try Wide Angle: Switch to the ultra-wide lens to capture more of the sky.
• Avoid Brightness: Let your eyes adjust — it takes around 20 minutes. Use your phone sparingly, or switch torches to a red filter to preserve night vision.
• Apps for Guidance: Sky Guide or Star Walk will help you identify constellations and planets. Hold your phone up and watch the sky map align in real time.
• Time-Lapse: Autumn evenings are great for short time-lapse videos of the stars wheeling overhead, especially with Jupiter and Saturn adding steady points of light.

So, there we have it Everything you need to know to witness some stunning night skies. Obviously, we need a clearish night to enjoy this so we are more than happy for last minute bookings. If you are worried about the cold nights fear not my next blog is already in the thought process it will be all about staying warm while autumn camping. See you in the meadow very soon

Let me just leave you with a poem…

An Autumn Evening

by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Dark hills against a hollow crocus sky
Scarfed with its crimson pennons, and below
The dome of sunset long, hushed valleys lie
Cradling the twilight, where the lone winds blow
And wake among the harps of leafless trees
Fantastic runes and mournful melodies.

The chilly purple air is threaded through
With silver from the rising moon afar,
And from a gulf of clear, unfathomed blue
In the southwest glimmers a great gold star
Above the darkening druid glens of fir
Where beckoning boughs and elfin voices stir.

And so I wander through the shadows still,
And look and listen with a rapt delight,
Pausing again and yet again at will
To drink the elusive beauty of the night,
Until my soul is filled, as some deep cup,
That with divine enchantment is brimmed up.