Northumberland's rural landscapes are a beautiful mosaic of heather-covered moors, undulating hills, and ancient meadowland. This idyllic county also has extremely low levels of light pollution, resulting in the darkest skies in England and making it one of the top places in the country to stargaze.
On our trip, you'll see the stars of Northumberland accompanied by an expert astronomer, Richard Darn, who'll tell you all about the jaw-dropping sights you'll see in the Northumberland Dark Sky Park.
Richard will join you on trips to two observatories, where you'll get access to telescopes and binoculars and also wander outside under the dazzling skies to see the Milky Way with the naked eye.
You'll stay at the Twice Brewed Inn, a cosy pub hotel near Hadrian's Wall, surrounded by stunning scenery in the heart of rural Northumberland. Dine on hearty, home-cooked food and sample their selection of home-brewed ales and spirits. Get cosy by the open fire, enjoy a pint in the beer garden and discover the onsite Brew House and Dark Skies Observatory.
With numerous TV and radio appearances to his credit, Richard remains a stargazer at heart who loves to share his passion for the heavens.
Today you'll arrive in Hexham, where your stargazing adventure begins. You'll meet the rest of the group at the Twice Brewed Inn, a welcoming pub hotel that will be your base as you explore Northumberland.
You'll have dinner at the hotel tonight with your guide and expert astronomer Richard Darn. Before your first starry encounter this evening, there'll be a quick introduction talk about the local area.
After dinner, you'll head to the Twice Brewed Observatory for a private visit and a talk, so you can learn more about astronomy in Northumberland.
After breakfast, meet your guide, coach and driver for a tour of the surrounding area including a visit to the Roman Vindolanda Fort Museum, Roman Army Museum and Hadrian's Wall site.
You'll return to the hotel for dinner (not included) before travelling to the Kielder Observatory with Richard. The visit will include a full tour of the facility and the equipment and explanations of how the telescopes and robotic mounts work. Most importantly, there'll be plenty of opportunity for stargazing, using the large telescopes for objects like the planets, star clusters, the moon and step outside to view with the naked eye, looking at constellations, satellites and the Milky Way.
You'll have breakfast at the hotel before checking out as your trip comes to an end.
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* From price is per person, subject to availability. Price and itinerary correct at time of print but may be subject to change. Single supplement: £130pp. Deposit: 20%. Local charges such as tourist tax may apply. Not suitable for those with mobility issues. In the case of unforeseen circumstances, expert(s) may be substituted, and any expert-led events may be subject to change. Travel insurance is not included and should be taken out at time of booking. Images used may not reflect your actual tour experience. This holiday may be sold through other selected brands. Tour is operated by and subject to the booking conditions of TS Travel Ltd.