Night sky adventures

West Penwith

You could spend a late afternoon enjoying the blue hour, when the sun remains lower in the sky and you can see the landscape in dreamy, dramatic lighting, or find a spot by the coast to enjoy a spectacular Cornish sunset.

You could book an archeoastronomy tour and discover the connection between ancient sites and the night’s sky or simply head out on a clear night to gaze up at the stars.

What better way to spend the long winter evenings, than to revel in the beauty of our dark skies

You can mix and match from the suggested activities to create a great day out during your stay. If you were to do all the activities on this itinerary, it would take around two-three days.

Please note: You will need to contact the venue or experience provider directly to book.

Some of the activities in this itinerary require a good level of mobility and fitness. We advise that you contact the venue or experience provider in advance to find out more.

From October onwards, the darker evenings create the perfect opportunity for stargazing. West Penwith is an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) and has recently been designated an International Dark Sky Park (one of just seven sites in the UK). This means the area is naturally dark and has minimal light pollution. Head out on a cloudless night and follow these helpful tips to experience nature’s spectacle in the sky. Top stargazing spots include the Merry Maidens Stone Circle in Boleigh and Carn Galver Engine House in Zennor. You can find more locations through Go Stargazing. Stargazing is suitable for advanced levels of fitness and requires forward planning as locations can be remote.

Look Up

Stargazing in West Penwith

Archeoastronomy and heritage walk

Archeoastronomy Cornwall

How did our ancestors try to make sense of the night sky? During this fascinating guided walk, you’ll explore the ancient sites of West Penwith to discover their connection with astronomical events. The Archeoastronomy and Heritage Walk takes you to barrows, ancient stone circles and more. Find out more about Carolyn’s tour and book here.

Bronze Age Walk

Archeoastronomy Cornwall

Get a deeper understanding of West Penwith’s ancient sites with a unique tour from an archeoastronomy expert. Carolyn Kennett shares her extensive knowledge of the area and how our ancestors connected with the sky. The Bronze Age tour is a three-mile guided walk to see a Bronze Age village, stone circles, barrows and more. It can be booked through AirBNB experiences.

Cornish Meadery Experience

Pendeen, Newlyn

For a truly unique dining experience, make your way to one of West Cornwall’s three meaderies. A meadery is an informal restaurant with medieval decor (think flags and wooden tables) that serves traditional mead (fruit wine) and fried ‘chicken in the rough’ on wooden platters. There’s Newlyn Meadery and Trewellard Meadery (Pendeen). Make sure you book your table. Yeghes D

Places to eat

Essential Information

Places to stay

Retreat to a cosy self-catering cottage or book a stylish hotel in the heart of town. Discover the perfect seaside stay for your winter in Cornwall.

More inspiration?

Visit out of season and step into an adventure. Explore our entire collection of inspiring itineraries and plan a great day out.

Accessibility

Many of the activities in our itineraries are accessible, however some will be difficult to access with limited mobility. We advise that you contact the venue or experience provider in advance to confirm. You can also find information about accessible venues through Access Cornwall.