16 Best UFO Skywatch Locations In The UK
July 14, 2024 1:00 AM ‐ UFOs
Photo: © Krishna Mantripragada
The UK is renowned for its numerous UFO sightings, with enthusiasts regularly gathering in specific locations to scan the skies for unexplained phenomena. Here are the top places in the UK where you can keep an eye out for unidentified flying objects. These locations, with their unique histories and favourable conditions, offer some of the best opportunities in the UK to catch a glimpse of a UFO.
16. Langland Bay, Swansea, Wales
Langland Bay is a popular skywatch location to the south of Swansea in South Wales. The bay offers unobstructed views of the Bristol Channel and the surrounding area, including Mumbles Head. A car park located to the west of the beach provides easy access, and from there it's just a short walk to Snaple Point, a prime vantage spot. This location is connected to a major UFO event known as 'The Night of the Triangles', which took place in 1983. During this event, hundreds of people reported seeing slow-moving, triangular objects in the skies along the South Wales coast, adding a sense of intrigue to any skywatching here.
15. Colliford Lake, Bodmin Moor, Cornwall
Colliford Lake on Bodmin Moor provides a convenient parking spot beside the lake, offering minimal light pollution and excellent conditions for skywatching.
14. Wimbleball Lake, Exmoor National Park
Wimbleball Lake is known for its beautiful stargazing conditions. The Haddon Hill Car Park offers free parking after 6 pm, making it a convenient spot for setting up telescopes and observing the night sky.
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13. Usk Reservoir, Brecon Beacons, Wales
Photo: © Mat Fascione
The car park at Usk Reservoir is a flat area perfect for setting up telescopes. With minimal light pollution, it offers excellent conditions for skywatching in the Brecon Beacons.
12. Kirroughtree Visitor Centre, Galloway Forest Park, Scotland
Galloway Forest Park is the UK's first Dark Sky Park and the always-open car park at Kirroughtree Visitor Centre provides a convenient location for skywatchers to make the most of the clear views of the night sky in the surrounding area.
11. Kilvey Hill, Swansea, Wales
Photo: © Jakejakegarner
Kilvey Hill is a prominent site on the eastern side of Swansea, known for its panoramic views of the city centre, Swansea Docks, and Swansea Bay. The free parking available at the base of Pentre-Chwyth Road, just off the A4217, makes it a convenient spot for visitors. From there, a 40-minute walk along a marked trail leads to the summit, offering expansive views perfect for skywatching. Kilvey Hill was also a notable location during the 'Night of the Triangles' UFO sightings in 1983, when several unusual aerial phenomena were reported in the area, further cementing its reputation as a hotspot for UFO activity.
10. Clatteringshaws Loch, Galloway Forest Park, Scotland
Clatteringshaws Loch, which also lies within the Galloway Forest Park dark sky ares, offers an accessible car park and serene setting with minimal light pollution, ideal for skywatching.
9. Hawkhope Car Park, Kielder Forest, Northumberland
Part of the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, Hawkhope Car Park near Falstone provides a convenient location for skywatchers, with expansive views and low light pollution.
8. Elf Kirk Viewpoint, Kielder Forest, Northumberland
Photo: © wfmillar
Also within Kielder Forest, Elf Kirk Viewpoint near the Tower Knowe Visitor Centre offers broad, open views of the sky, perfect for spotting any unusual aerial phenomena.
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7. Knap Hill, Marlborough, Wiltshire
Knap Hill near Marlborough in the Vale of Pewsey offers an excellent skywatching location in Wiltshire. The area's open landscape and minimal light pollution provide perfect conditions for spotting unexplained phenomena. You can park in the free Pewsey Downs Car Park, just off the road from Alton Barnes to Marlborough, and watch the sky from here, or it's just a couple of minutes to walk to the top of Knap Hill for a better view.
6. Hackpen Hill, Winterbourne Bassett, Swindon
Photo: © Anguskirk
The white horse car park on Hackpen Hill in Wiltshire is a popular spot for skywatchers due to its high elevation and clear views of the night sky, making it ideal for observing potential UFO activity.
5. Bonnybridge, Falkirk, Scotland
Bonnybridge, a small town in Falkirk, Scotland, is often referred to as the "UFO capital of Scotland" due to the sheer number of sightings reported since the 1990s. Situated between Glasgow and Edinburgh, the area has become a hotspot for UFO enthusiasts, with numerous unexplained aerial phenomena observed over the years. The fields and open areas surrounding Bonnybridge provide clear views of the sky, and with relatively low light pollution, it offers excellent conditions for those keen to spot something out of the ordinary.
4. Cley Hill, Warminster, Wiltshire
Photo: © David Doff
Warminster is a well-known UFO hotspot, having gained notoriety in the 1960s and 1970s for a series of unexplained phenomena known as the "Warminster Thing." Cley Hill draws UFO enthusiasts with its reported sightings. There's a small National Trust car park located just off the A362 near Corsley. From here, it's about a mile's walk to the vantage point at the top of the hill, although the walk is fairly steep.
3. Starr Hill, Warminster, Wiltshire
Middle Hill is another notable spot in Warminster, that's also known as Starr Hill within the ufology community. There's a small amount of free parking about 300 metres from the top of the hill that provides clear views of the night sky. Although less iconic than nearby Cradle Hill, this location is darker and more remote, it's also easier to walk to the summit than at Cley Hill.
2. Cow & Calf Rocks, Ilkley Moor, West Yorkshire
Photo: © Rick Harrison
Ilkley Moor is famous for its rugged beauty and historical UFO sightings, particularly the well-publicized 1987 incident. The Cow and Calf Rocks provide clear, unobstructed views of the sky, making it an excellent spot for skywatching.
1. Cradle Hill, Warminster, Wiltshire
Photo: © Maurice Pullin
On paper, the hill isn't the best location for a skywatch. While it does offer an elevated position, the view is somewhat obstructed and there is a bit of light pollution, but what makes this hill a mile north of Warminster so popular with UFO enthusiasts is its notoriety as the location most closely linked with the "Warminster Thing." Following the residents' reports of seeing unusual lights in the sky, a dedicated band of skywatchers regularly held vigil on this hill.
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