Daniel Start, co-author of the new Wild Guide South East, shares six of his favourite sunset and stargazing spots across the Cotswolds
Milky Way
Wittenham Clumps, Wittenham
Few places are better for watching the day fade than Wittenham Clumps, where England’s oldest planted beech trees crown an ancient tumulus high above the Thames.
As the sun sinks across the rolling countryside, the panoramic views glow gold and bronze, offering a moment of stillness above the landscape below.
Stay a little longer and – as dusk deepens – the Clumps become a beautiful place to watch the first stars make their appearance over the river and surrounding hills.
Uffington Hillfort & Wayland’s Smithy
High up on Uffington Castle, Oxfordshire’s highest point, the views stretch across six counties beneath big open skies. Beside the ancient hillfort, the great white horse carved into the hillside has watched over the landscape for thousands of years, making this an unforgettable place to catch the last light of the day.
From here, you can follow the ancient The Ridgeway across the downs to Wayland’s Smithy, a mysterious Neolithic chambered barrow said in legend to have been home to a Saxon smith-god. As dusk settles over the ridge and the stars begin to emerge, there’s a distinctive sense of myth, history and wild beauty.
The Rollright Stones, Chipping Norton
The Rollright Stones/Kings Men, Chipping Norton
By day, the ancient Rollright Stones stand majestically above the Cotswold landscape, but after dark the circle takes on an entirely different quality. Built from local limestone over 2,000 years ago, the King’s Men are said to be impossible to count, their weathered silhouettes becoming even more mysterious beneath a sky full of stars. As a recognised Dark Skies Discovery Site, it is one of the finest places in the Cotswolds to pause, look upwards and feel the deep connection between ancient monuments, vast night skies and the countless generations who have stood here before us.
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Trees form an archway over a footpath at Wychwood wild gardens.
Wychwood Forest, Charlbury
It’s not all sunsets and wide-open skies, sometimes the real magic happens under a canopy of trees at dusk. Wychwood Forest is often referred to as ‘the secret forest’ for its magical quality, and is the largest area of continuous woodland in West Oxfordshire.
Here, as the light fades, the forest shifts into its nocturnal rhythm. Deer move through the shadows, bats begin to thread along hedgerows and streams, and owls hoot through the stillness. At this time of day, the forest offers a rare, intimate window into the natural world coming alive after dark and Wychwood is a wonderful place to pause and enjoy it… but don’t mention the stories of the forest being haunted at night.
Barefoot Camp
Barefoot Camp Northmoor Lock
There’s a beauty to sleeping under the stars, and Barefoot Camp at Northmoor Lock is the perfect place to experience it. As darkness settles over the Thames, the riverside campsite transforms into a wide-open theatre for stargazing, with the sounds of flowing water and nocturnal wildlife drifting through the meadow.
If possible, sleep in a bivvy bag (a waterproof sleeping bag cover) so you can lie back fully exposed to the night sky and enjoy seeing the stars in all their clarity.
(Image: Ian Kershaw)
The Eye Catcher, Steeple Aston
The Eye Catcher at West Wycombe Park is one of the most striking follies in the south-east. A dramatic pinnacled wall built in 1740 as a sham ruin, its empty arches create a beautiful silhouette against the sky. It’s particularly striking at dusk when the structure stands out clearly against an open horizon. It’s a spectacular place to watch the setting sun..
Wild Guide London & South East
The Wild Guide London & South East is available to buy for £18.99 via Wild Things Publishing. Cotswold Life readers can receive 20 per cent off and free P&P with coupon code Wild26 at wildthingspublishing.com