When you’re looking for somewhere to watch the stars twinkle in the night’s sky, rural areas are always a better choice than urban areas due to the amount of light pollution around them. That makes Wales a perfect country for some amateur astronomy (stargazing).

Across the world, some of the best stargazing spots are; The Atacama Desert, Chile. Mauna Kea, Hawaii, Pic du Midi and parts of the United States and France – perfect places to see the night’s sky in all of its glory.

However, this article isn’t about the rest of the world. It is about the best places in Wales with the darkest skies for you to some quality stargazing – so without further ado, let’s begin.

Broadhaven Beach South

The Pembrokeshire Coast is well known for its beautiful views of the Celtic Sea, but it is also renowned for its jet black night skies perfect for stargazing. During the summer months, a short walk from the beaches’ car park over the dunes will lead you to unveil a beautifully dark night sky that comes alive.

Brecon Beacons Visitor Centre, Libanus

Moving East from the Pembrokeshire coast, the Brecon Beacons is another amazing location to lie back and watch the night sky come alive with stars across the galaxy. Especially if you’re just starting out with your stargazing but don’t want to miss out on the best night skies. The Brecon Beacons Visitor Centre is a highly recommended spot in the mountain range, with a car park nearby and toilets the centre offers everything a new gazer would need for a night of watching beautiful skies.

Elan Valley

Home to some of the darkest skies in the country all year round, the valley is a sublime location to stargaze. However, due to the location of the valley and its distance from populated towns, it is advised that you take caution if you are intending on stargazing here. Interestingly, in 2015 this valley was the very first privately owned but publicly accessible park in the entire world to be awarded International Dark Sky Status. Meaning that the entire 45,000 acres are protected against light pollution for the benefit of the local population.