30-04-2025
Powys holiday park in dark Sky space opens stargazing dome
A Powys holiday park's new accommodation designed to make the most of its stargazing status has been opened.
Having created a new development of holiday homes and lodges designed to fit in with the area's status as a Dark Sky Community, Rockbridge Country Holiday Park in Presteigne officially opened the new facility.
Opened by Welsh Assembly Member James Evans MS and visited by Presteigne town councillors as well as members of the Presteigne Dark Skies Community, the space dubbed 'The Retreat' was opened on Friday, April 25.
As well as a collection of holiday homes and lodges, the area also has a transparent viewing dome to give a full uninterrupted view of the night sky. The dome also has professional telescopes inside and resources to educate people on how to properly stargaze with the help of the local Marches Astronomy Group.
To further enhance the environment, the park has invested in reducing light pollution and sky-glow from the park by installing low level lighting.
Discover Parks owners, Glenn and Hannah Jones said: 'The development's taken longer than we would have liked, but in hindsight it's given us time to create something that compliments the unique landscape which surrounds the park and we're bowled over by the interest so far.
'We've been extremely careful not to create light pollution in an area that's been awarded for its dedication to maintaining unpolluted night skies, and that, we feel, is being greatly appreciated.'
Rockbridge Country Holiday Park is situated just outside the town of Presteigne, which in 2024 became the first community in Wales to be designated an International Dark Sky Community by Dark Sky International.
Beverley Baynham called the designation a 'successful' conclusion to their six year campaign to have the area designated as a Dark Sky Community.
The area's Dark Skies Community Leader, Leigh-Harling Bowen says it was a long and hard campaign to achieve the status for the area.
He said: "The Presteigne & Norton community has worked tenaciously over the last six years to highlight the benefits of becoming a dark sky community. 'The Retreat' at Rockbridge will now be able to offer visitors the opportunity to see unparalleled views of the dark, clear, unpolluted skies of Mid Wales.'
