Potential DSC Campsites

[Mike]

This one looks like a possibility - near Lydd :-

http://www.norwoodfarmnewchurch.co.uk/

[MarkS]

That's the one Dee & I went to in September:


The sky quality was very good but it did have very bright lights outside the toilet block and lit bollards along the internal tarmac road.

[Mike]

OK that's a no then. I'm compiling a Google Map of potentials. More will be added over time. I'll add your comments.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?hl=en&gl=uk&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=116836630893893363332.000486c7286a4f8f47927&t=h&z=11

[MarkS]

Add this one:
http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/siteseeker/aspx/details.aspx?id=6300

On the coast (literally) between Bexhill and Eastbourne so it should should have pretty dark sky due South.

I came across it some time ago during a Google Maps mile by mile search of the Kent/Sussex English Channel coastline. 

[RobertM]

Just had a word with David Warren at Telescope House (they manage Stars Farm).  Since they don't have facilities (other then B&B) there are no overnight stays. However, he did make a couple of suggestions:

1) Hind Leap Warren in the Ashdown forest.  This was the site of the first UK dark sky camp and has a very good southerly view down to the horizon.  It should also have campsite facilities.

Website: http://www.londonyouth.org.uk/centres/hindleap.html

2) Gabriels Farm Edenbridge.  This is that place that Telescope house are hoping to negotiate astronomy only weekends for their newly set up society.  It could be we can organise the same or possibly share the weekend which David thought seemed quite a good idea.

Website: http://www.gabriels-fishery.co.uk/

Robert

[Mike]

Added. Thanks.

[MarkS]

Rother Valley (http://www.rother-valley.com/) is "recommended" by the Need-Less Night Sky Simulator (http://www.need-less.org.uk/night%20sky%20simulator.html)  i.e. it gets its own symbol on their map (if you zoom in).

Mark

[Mac]

That looks like quite a nice find.
Might be worth a try.

Mac.

[Mac]

On another thought, how about trying to purchase some land as a society with a lottery grant?
Might also be worth a look.
If there are enough of us it might be worth purchasing alone or 50:50 with the society?

Here are a few.

http://www.uklanddirectory.org.uk/land-for-sale.asp?id=9969 30K 3Acres
http://www.uklanddirectory.org.uk/land-for-sale.asp?id=11497 5Acres no price
http://www.uklanddirectory.org.uk/land-for-sale.asp?id=9459 40K 2 Acres.

How about a begging letter to Mr £89'000'000?
Mac.

[PhilB]

I've toyed quite seriously with the idea of buying a reasonable observing site. There are a lot of problems with this. You need to go there regularly not just once a month. This puts a tight limit on how far away it is, and with rising petrol prices that distance is getting smaller and smaller. Also, almost any land will need some form of up keep. This may well require specialised equipment. Then there's things like the maintenance of boundaries and how to remove undesirables and the crap they leave behind when and if you mange to eject them........

Believe me, the list is a long one.

That said if you're serious and the price is right, I might well be up for it

[Mike]

Rother Valley (http://www.rother-valley.com/) is "recommended" by the Need-Less Night Sky Simulator (http://www.need-less.org.uk/night%20sky%20simulator.html)  i.e. it gets its own symbol on their map (if you zoom in).

Mark

So is Romney Farm (which should have better skies but which has a dirty big orange streetlamp in the middle of the field). I think Rother Valley needs a recce.

[Mike]

I have enquired about the lighting at Rother Valley and got this response :-

Thank you for your enquiry.

We have very limited lighting on the site. The main camping field and alcoves in the wooded area do not have lighting at all. These areas are approximately 200 metres from the Toilet Block.

I hope this information is of help.

regards

Jackie

Sounds good to me. How about we give it a go for uDSC in June?

[Carole]

Rother Valley sounds good, but they talk about tents pitching between the trees.  Also limited hook up.  Some of us are now hooked on hook up (excuse the pun).

Think we need to talk through our needs with them.

Carole

[Mike]

Well we also have batteries so can do it the 'old fashioned way'. Mac has a genny and we can always run long cables from a hook-up if necessary.

[Mac]

Mac has a genny and we can always run long cables from a hook-up if necessary.

Yup Genny is available whenever. (it runs for 7 hours flat out. (2kw))
I've also got 100M of cable (Thanks Mr G) Available for a long extension as  well.

Mac.