Derbyshire’s Gateway To Dark Sky Awe

Surprise View is a large car park set in Hathersage with a very special secret. It is a designated dark sky spot by the Peak District National Park and a true 'hidden gem' for phenomenal stargazing opportunities.

Stargazing is something everybody should do at least once in their life. Not just staring up at the sky in passing, but grabbing cosy blankets, some delicious hot chocolate and perhaps even a DSLR for epic astrophotography pictures if you have one.

You're then set to take a seat for a meteorological show, like the great Perseid Meteor Shower in August (checkout National Geographic for more meteorological events) which can bring up to 60 shooting stars an hour: that's a lot of wishes!

The reason you can't do this from your home, is because the lights of the city cause something called light pollution, which blocks the clear view of the sky you are able to get at dark spots like Surprise View.

At certain times of the year, surprise view is clear enough for you to see the Milky Way, something most people only think they can see in somewhere like the Grand Canyon.

You can see the magical Milky Way in the Peak District, how exciting is that?

There are free smartphone apps to help you keep on track with stargazing opportunities throughout the year if you're unsure how to know when the best nights are for looking up.

If you're not convinced yet, you might be interested to know that looking up at the sky is actually good for your mental health. Apparently, looking at scenes that make us feel awe, like the universe, puts our lives into perspective and makes our worries feel much smaller. At the least your trip to see the dark sky will be a romantic adventure, and at most, it could lift your mood and help you feel brighter and lighter for at least, a short time.

Why Surprise View Is So Special

Surprise View is one of many dark spots across the UK, but it is very, very special in its own right.

You can visit in the evening along with other astronomy enthusiasts and see meteor showers, the Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy and there are sometimes small chances of catching aurora borealis - AKA - The Northern Lights - AKA bucket list stuff.

You can also stay for sunrise and get even more of a deeply soul filling experience.

As the sun starts to gear up for rising, the sparkling stars start to fade and disappear behind a bright azure blue and pink two tone sky. The sound of the many native birds in the area singing is so sweet, and joyful, and makes the whole experience a bit 'Disney'.

As everything gets lighter, you realise the true natural beauty of the area. You get a complete panoramic view of Hope Valley, complete with the rich heather dusted hills and famous rock formation Over Owler Tor across the road, along with many colourful pheasants meandering between the tree's, and various birds dramatically diving in and out of the shrubs. Walking uphill from the back of the car park you can also walk to Mother Cap Stone crag and take in views from higher up.

You could enjoy this entire process in reverse for sunset and then stargazing if that suits you better, there are plenty of welcoming country pubs nearby for refreshments, and Chesterfield is less than a scenic 30 minutes’ drive away if you want to grab picnic supplies on route.

Looking up at the vast, endless sky on offer at Surprise view, you realise that of all those planets and balls of gas up there, this planet harbours life in many different incredible forms, along with the hopes and dreams of billions of beings. You're reminded that our planet is very, very special, and extremely precious, worth appreciating, exploring and most importantly, protecting.

By, Aneka D - 2018