The tiny Channel Island of Sark has world-beating starry nights

Fans of Enya will know the singer created a mesmeric album called Dark Sky Island. But did you know the island she sings about is the small Channel Island of Sark?

With no street lighting, no cars and only about 500 residents, the nights on Sark get very, very dark, particularly when there is no moon to light the path. You may find you need a torch for the country lanes as you make your way to the Dark Sky Observatory to look through the telescope for a clear view of the incredible constellations above.

In 2011, Sark became the world’s first official “dark sky island”. It was chosen for the quality of its night sky and the observatory opened a few years later to satisfy the growing number of enthusiasts flocking to this speck of granite to see the spectacular sight of the Milky Way without the fog of light pollution.

Star treatment: clear skies at night in Sark Credit: Alamy

The observatory is nothing fancy, just a wooden hut with a powerful telescope and a roof that can be retracted to expose the jewels above – visits are by appointment. But then this is Sark, an island that was still feudal as recently as 2008, so anything more glamorous would be out of keeping with its surroundings.

While Sark’s skies are the star of the show at night, it is the ground beneath your feet that will wow by day. Narrow dusty paths are bordered by a bright tapestry of wildflowers, golden sandy coves meet an azure sea and everywhere you look are lush shades of green.

You can reach Sark by boat from Guernsey, and Guernsey itself boasts some pretty fabulous stargazing and its own observatory, which this year is open on Thursday evenings between July 19 and August 30. There is a good chance you will see the planet Mercury on August 26.

As Guernsey is one of the sunniest places in the British Isles, you will hopefully enjoy spectacular days too.

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