Fodor's Expert Review OM Dark Sky Observatory

Deep in the wild Sperrin Mountains of Tyrone a lack of light pollution allows for astonishing views of the night sky and creates an ideal location for seeing crystal-clear star constellations. Northern Ireland's first dark-sky observatory opened in Davagh Forest in the secluded foothills of the mountains in spring 2020 at a cost of £1.2 million. The new center houses a retractable roof, observatory, and telescope showcasing the dark-sky site, combining technology from holographic installations to virtual reality headsets and interpretation panels to explore the solar system. On a cloud-free night you may be lucky enough to see the Milky Way, the Perseid meteor shower (if here in August), or deep-sky objects such as the Pleiades, the Orion Nebula, and depending on conditions, the northern lights. The centerpiece of the observatory is the 14 inch LX600 Meade telescope which enables stunning images to be captured. Talks and star-gazing events are held in the evenings to account for night sky activity at certain times of the year. VIP tours can also be arranged in advance and cost from £40. The significance of the stars to ancient life, forms part of the experience linking the landscape with the archaeological and astronomical heritage of the Sperrins. This entails a delightful walk along a new adjoining boardwalk leading to the Beaghmore Bronze Age stone circles, a wonderfully atmospheric location classified as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The circles were uncovered by turf cutters in the 1940s and evidence was revealed of a ceremonial site with alignments and cairns while the concentration of stones was dated to between 1500 and 800 BC. Catch the right day and this bleak landscape glows with a magnetic quality when the sun appears.