Anyone who has spent a night under the stars in Northumberland can tell you what a magical experience it is.
Across much of the county (especially in the north) you can pick out constellations and shooting stars due to the lack of light pollution. And a new study has named spending a night in Northumberland International Dark Skies Park to stargaze into the UK's darkest skies top of the list of experiences to try in the UK before the age of 40.
The survey found that 84% of Brits admitted there are places they have yet to explore in the UK, with 56% keen to tick some off their bucket list before they hit 40. A night in Northumberland came ahead of taking a road trip on Scotland's North Coast 500 in second place, travelling to Birmingham's Balti Triangle for a uniquely British-Asian foodie experience, and exploring the UK's 2,000 miles of canals and rivers with a staycation on a canal boat in fourth.
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Surprisingly, of the 40 experiences on the list, staying the night in Northumberland International Dark Sky Park was the only one in our region to make the cut. But with the Dark Sky Park covering a total of 572 square miles and much of Northumberland National Park, the Simonside Hills and Cheviot Hills, and a section of Hadrian's Wall, we'll settle for the crown!
Dan Pye, Director of Astronomy and Science Communication at Kielder Observatory, said: "It's really interesting because it can sometimes feel like the stereotype of Northumberland is that it's for older people. So for it being for under 40s, it really changes the perspective of Northumberland as a place to come and visit.
"It is a place you can come with the family, it is a place you can come as young adults and have a nice time. And it's a fantastic place for stargazing, it's the largest Gold Tier Standard Dark Sky Park in Europe.
"On a clear night you can see things like the Milky Way and up to 3,500 stars with the naked eye during the winter. You can even see some of the fainter stuff with the naked eye, such as the Andromeda Galaxy and you get the Northern Lights up here every now and again."
The Dark Sky Park has had a big tourism benefit for the county too, with astrotourism having taken off massively since the park's designation in 2013, with it said to be worth £25m to the local visitor economy. In Northumberland alone, there are five observatories: Kielder, Battlesteads (Wark), Twice Brewed (Bardon Mill), North Pennines (Allenheads) and Stonehaugh.
Dan continued: "I think astrotourism is becoming more and more important for Northumberland. With places like Kielder, there was very little to do in the wintertime, but I think now there's a real incentive to go to these darker place and have these astronomical experiences.
Read more: Northumberland beauty spot named one of the best places to stargaze in the UK
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"And it's a great way to get away from that light pollution and also have a nice relaxing vacation. That's been great for accommodation providers and other businesses such as restaurants, they all benefit from astrotourism too."
For those travelling to the county, you can still see partake in astrotourism by seeing spectacular light shows and star-studded nights outside of the designated park. Several places on the Northumberland Coast make for excellent stargazing, including Holy Island and Howick.
Dan's UK bucket list destination is a little further than the Northumberland Coast - he'd like to travel to Cornwall as it's one of the few places in the UK he hasn't been to and you can see more of the Milky Way there, he says. And visiting Porthcurno (Pedn Vounder) Beach in the county made it to seventh on the list, though our colleagues at Cornwall Live found it was anything but an idyllic bucket list destination, and residents hoping that it doesn't receive any more publicity.
The study, conducted by NatWest, found that a key motivation for 40 percent of Brits was that they enjoy being outdoors, a quarter want to explore destinations to tick off their bucket list, and 22 percent are keen on learning something new from their adventures. However, finances are a top barrier for those who want to make their travel dreams a reality with 34 percent of adults saying cost is the key issue when choosing their travel experiences, as well as lack of transport (26 percent), inconsistent weather (20 percent) and being too busy (18 percent).
A quarter even found that travelling abroad is more affordable, while another 29 percent think it's more relaxing to leave the UK. However, almost half (49 percent) still consider booking a trip at home to save money.
Lisa Nand, Travel expert and journalist, said: "A life well lived is a life filled with experiences. Now more than ever, we’re all looking to invest in moments to create brilliant memories either solo or with friends and family, and travel is a key part of that – whether it’s getting back to nature, seeing amazing architecture, learning about new culture and history or just going on a fantastic road trip."
The research was commissioned by NatWest to launch its new Buy Now Pay Later product. To see the full list of the '40 Before 40' - Greatest British travel experiences, click here.
What's top of your UK travel bucket list? Let us know!
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