Two North Yorkshire locations named among UK's top 10 spots to watch rare solar eclipse next week
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North Yorkshire has been confirmed as England's top county for watching next week's rare solar eclipse, securing two places in a national top 10 ranking
North Yorkshire has been crowned England’s premier county for skygazers, securing two positions in a national top-10 ranking of the best destinations to view next week’s rare solar eclipse.
On August 12, the UK will experience its deepest solar eclipse since 1999, with up to 96% of the Sun covered by the Moon in parts of the country.
With UK Google searches for ‘solar eclipse safety’ surging by 188% in recent weeks, a new study by Lotus Car Rentals evaluated locations across the country using key metrics including cloud cover, altitude, light pollution, and daylight hours.
North Yorkshire stood out as the only English county to land multiple locations in the national top 10, with both Buckden Pike and the famous Tan Hill Inn making the cut.
North Yorkshire's Top Viewing Spots for this week’s eclipse
Buckden Pike (Ranked #9 in the UK)
Sitting at an impressive elevation of 694 metres in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, Buckden Pike provides expansive, unobstructed views of the western horizon.
Classified as a Bortle 4 dark sky location with an average August cloud cover of 49%, the peak offers an ideal vantage point to watch the spectacle unfold.
Skygazers staying on after the eclipse will also benefit from minimal light pollution, enjoying fair visibility of the Milky Way and between 1,000 to 2,000 visible stars across the night sky.
Tan Hill Inn (Ranked #10 in the UK)
Ranking tenth nationally, Swaledale’s famous Tan Hill Inn offers another outstanding North Yorkshire vantage point.
Perched at an altitude of 524 metres, Britain’s highest pub combines low horizon interference with a Bortle 4 dark sky rating and an average August cloud cover of 49%, providing a unique setting to watch the early evening eclipse darken the surrounding moorlands before dark skies take over for night-time stargazing.
The UK Top 10 Stargazing & Eclipse Locations
- Craig Goch Dam, Rhayader (Wales)
- Arinagour, Isle of Coll (Scotland)
- Tomintoul, Banffshire (Scotland)
- La Coupée, Isle of Sark (Channel Islands)
- Cliad, Isle of Coll (Scotland)
- Galloway Forest Park (Scotland)
- Isle of Rum (Scotland)
- Hay Bluff, Powys (Wales)
- Buckden Pike, North Yorkshire (England)
- Tan Hill Inn, Swaledale (England)
Essential Solar Eclipse Safety Checklist
Viewing a partial solar eclipse requires strict safety precautions, as the Sun is never fully obscured in the UK.
Anyone planning to travel into the Dales or Moors must use genuine ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses at all times, as standard sunglasses—regardless of how dark they are—offer no protection against permanent retinal damage.
The same caution applies to equipment: cameras, binoculars, and telescopes must have dedicated solar filters fitted directly to the front of the lens to prevent severe eye injury and ruined gear. Practical preparation is equally vital for rural skywatchers.
With temperatures expected to drop sharply by up to 10°C during peak coverage as solar radiation is blocked, visitors are advised to pack extra warm layers and scarves.
Drivers are also urged to keep a full tank of petrol, ensuring the flexibility needed to navigate unpredictable North Yorkshire weather and relocate if local cloud cover threatens visibility.