Santa will soon be on his annual adventure around the world, and we’ll let you into a little secret – your chances of spotting him on Christmas Eve are at their best in one of the UK’s Dark Sky areas. Leave the city behind and head to the countryside for a magical festive getaway in a cosy cottage, and a chance to see Santa in the sky…
Christmas Eve traditions are part of a very special treasure trove of memories for all generations; leaving a carrot for Rudolph and a mince pie and sherry for Santa, hanging your stocking by the fireplace and gathering around the roaring fire for a board game before bedtime.
This year, you could make Christmas Eve extra special with a moonlit adventure - wrap up warm and keep your eyes peeled for eight reindeer, Santa himself, and a sleigh full of Christmas gifts flying through the night sky, accompanied by an unforgettable backdrop of twinkling stars. And don’t forget to keep track of Santa’s flight around the world once he’s left the North Pole! Here are our top cottages for stargazing and Santa spotting this Christmas…
To the Lighthouse
Nr Dale, Pembrokeshire | Sleeps 6
Best for: Never-ending sea views
With views as special by night as they are by day, head to the enchanting To The Lighthouse to see Santa make his way along the spellbinding Pembrokeshire coastline. The winter months bring the perfect opportunity to hunker down and hide away in ‘The Cabin’, a handy sheltered outdoor space, to keep cosy and warm while losing yourself in the pure magic of the illuminated night sky.
Moss Farmhouse
Bodmin Moor, Cornwall | Sleeps 11
Best for: An unforgettable rural escape
Tucked away on Bodmin Moor in tranquil surroundings, Moss Farmhouse’s location is perfect for starry skies and seeking out Santa in the sky. With acres of countryside surrounding it, it certainly won’t be hard to find a good spot for stargazing and Santa spotting. And you can even keep an eye out from the blissful warmth of the hot tub!
The Hollies
Windermere, Lake District | Sleeps 10
Best for: Cosy celebrations
Packed full of places to stargaze, the Lake District is ideal for a winter stargazing escape. And The Hollies is the perfect spot for a cosy festive holiday with your favourite people. See Santa fly through the sky and admire the sparkling sky, then head back to light the wood burner and warm your toes by the fire. Sounds perfect to us…
Frogwell Cottage
Nr Dulverton, Somerset | Sleeps 5
Best for: National Park adventures
Tucked away within Exmoor National Park International Dark Sky Reserve, with uninterrupted views of the countryside and beyond, Frogwell Cottage is perhaps the perfect spot for Santa spotting and getting lost in the glitter of the night sky. And after your outdoor adventure, you can light the wood-burner and cosy up in this dreamy 19th-century rural retreat.
The Dairy
Settle, Yorkshire | Sleeps 2
Best for: Romantic holidays for two
Located in the Yorkshire Dales, The Dairy is a fantastic base for a stargazing getaway. Whisk your favourite person away for a Christmas holiday in this cosy cottage, and spend your escape walking in the National Park, enjoying mince pies by the fire, and spending a little time under the sparkling night sky.
The Swallows
Nr Chagford, Dartmoor | Sleeps 6
Best for: The sights and sounds of nature
Nestled in a wonderfully peaceful, rural setting, watch the stars sparkle in the night sky with a stay at The Swallows. The dark skies in Dartmoor are ideal for keeping an eye out for Santa and Rudolph from the garden, whilst you wrap up warm and enjoy the most magical time of the year. And the oh-so-cosy interiors will beckon you back in to sink into the sofa and get stuck into a cheese board.
Keepers Cottage
Nr Beadnell, Northumberland | Sleeps 6
Best for: Coastal explorations
Experience the magic of Christmas with a festive holiday at Keepers Cottage. Situated in a Dark Skies area in Northumberland, Keepers Cottage is perfect for stargazing and keeping an eye out for Santa. And on Christmas Day, open a gift or two, prepare a festive feast and wrap up warm for a wintry walk.
Apsley Cottage
Midhurst, Sussex | Sleeps 4
Best for: Winter walks
A beautiful country cottage in a tranquil location, Apsley Cottage is ideally placed for discovering the magic of the South Downs National Park Dark Sky Reserve. One of only 16 Dark Sky Reserves in the world, the South Downs is a great place to spot starry skies and flying reindeer, before returning to your cosy cottage to relax…Before the excitement of Christmas morning, of course!
House of Logs
Totland, Isle of Wight | Sleeps 8
Best for: An Island retreat
The Isle of Wight is well-known for its stargazing opportunities. Perched along the west coast, where the stargazing is at its best, House of Logs is an oh-so-charming, cosy getaway - perfect for that special festive holiday. Pull on your hat, gloves and scarf, make hot chocolate and mulled wines to keep you warm, and head to the beach to see what (or who) you can spot!
Take a look at our collection of Christmas cottages and find your perfect winter escape for stargazing and Santa spotting. Enjoy…
