Dark Skies at Merlin Farm
Merlin Farm offers selfc atering holiday cottages in a peaceful, secluded dark sky location on the North Coast of Cornwall. With open countryside and the rugged Cornish coastline nearby, this is a wonderful place to escape the glow of towns and cities and enjoy clear night skies.
Cornwall is a fantastic destination for stargazing, with many rural and coastal areas offering excellent views of the night sky. Here at Merlin Farm, our secluded setting means you can simply step outside on a clear evening, look up and enjoy the stars from the comfort of your holiday cottage.
We’re fortunate to experience beautiful dark skies right here at Merlin Farm, and our location is marked on the dark skies map shown in the 10th photo in the gallery above.
On 19 January 2026, we were especially lucky to witness the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) from Merlin Farm. It was a rare and spectacular sight, and you can see some of our photographs in our Instagram Reel.
Stargazing at Carnewas & Bedruthan Steps
Just a short distance from Merlin Farm, Carnewas & Bedruthan Steps has been officially accredited with Dark Sky Discovery status and is part of the Dark Sky Discovery network.
The Dark Sky Discovery network highlights accessible locations around the UK where you can enjoy particularly good views of the night sky. Carnewas & Bedruthan Steps is a wonderful spot to head out after dark, with the dramatic North Cornwall coastline providing a spectacular backdrop for stargazing.
There are even stargazing beds at the site, making it possible to settle back and enjoy the stars in comfort.
So, if you love astronomy, photography, or simply sitting outside on a clear night and looking up, Merlin Farm is a wonderful place to experience the darker skies of Cornwall.
Photos 2-9 by Andy Draycott
Top Stargazing Tips
You don't need fancy equipment to enjoy the stars, here's some 'naked eye' astronomy tips
Check the weather. Pick a good clear night and when the moon is at its darkest. This website is good and even tells you when the International Space Station will be passing over: https://clearoutside.com/forecast/50.46/-5.03
Download a stargazing App so that you can hold your smartphone up to the sky to see where the stars and constellations are.
Layer up! Stargazing is not for the faint hearted, you could be sitting outside for long periods of time so make sure you are wearing plenty of layers and sat comfortably so that you won’t get a stiff neck from looking up while standing.
For optimal viewing it is best to get outside later in the night - the darker the sky, the better the star-gazing. Let your eyes adjust to the darkness for 5-10 minutes. As your eyes become used to the darkness, you will start to see more and more stars.
Watch for moving things in the night sky. Meteors (shooting stars) look like bright streaks of light. Satellites (like the International Space Station) look like a star that moves slowly and steadily across the night sky. Aeroplanes have flashing green and red lights.
Useful Links
The Cornwall Astronomy Society
Best Stargazing Spots in England - Interactive Map