Dark Skies

Exmoor is about 15 minutes drive away from me, we go up there probably 2 or 3 times a year; often looking for snow. Well, I was surprised when Mum asked if I would drive her up there to go and see it in the dark as her birthday treat, however, the more she told me about it the more it made sense. Exmoor has been designated the first International Dark Sky Reserve in Europe. They have worked hard for it as well. And well what else would I want to do on a saturday night in early april but drive around Exmoor in the dark?

As usual when I don't have a proper plan I managed to drive the wrong way and ended up about 20 minutes away from where I had been aiming to get to. Anyhoo when we got to the top of the moor it was quite dark.

And very spooky, now I would say I am quite a brave person but not on the top of Exmoor under those dark skies. I mean there must have been murderers up there just waiting for two women to mysteriously stop in the middle of nowhere, mustn't there?

But the starlight, oh my. I was fairly skeptical that it wouldn't be particularly noticeable-y different...I was happy to be oh so wrong. It was spectacular, just a dome of fairy lights. I really thought I would need a telescope, now, I really want one. My iPhone app Night Sky really came into it's own as I only know the basic constellations. 

So I have now added a starlight midnight feast to our to do list for the summer. I love photography and I have always wanted to try for a star trail photo like this one by Nagesh Mahadev that you can see on my pinterest photo love board. So we could combine that together and hopefully the kids will love it.

I do know really that there are no Exmoor murderers really, but the Exmoor Beast? Well, we will definitely be on the lookout for it.