These areas are protected for their scientific, natural, educational, cultural and heritage purposes, and the UK now boasts numerous dark sky reserves - perfect for astronomy lovers. These are the locations of all of the dark sky reserves in the UK.
![The Yorkshire Dales has recently been given International Dark Sky Reserves status by the International Dark-Sky Association (Photo: Shutterstock)](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmRlMmFkZjhkLTVlNGEtNDFjYy05MGEwLTMxNjQwYmJmOTQzOTphMjBjMWRkZi04MWZjLTQ0MTQtYWU5My02NThjZWY0ZGM1ZWU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. Yorkshire Dales
The Yorkshire Dales has recently been given International Dark Sky Reserves status by the International Dark-Sky Association (Photo: Shutterstock) Photo: Shutterstock
![The expansive terrain of the North York Moors National Park has also recently been awarded the status (Photo: Shutterstock)](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjE3ODg2OWE5LTExNjQtNDNhNi05NzY0LWZmMjI3NWIwMDFiZjoyNzU1YTdjMS1hNjBkLTQyMzEtOWMwOS1lNWViMTdlYThmYWE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. North York Moors National Park
The expansive terrain of the North York Moors National Park has also recently been awarded the status (Photo: Shutterstock) Photo: Shutterstock
![The Brecons Beacons National Park offers plenty of large, open spaces, which are perfect for taking in the night sky (Photo: Shutterstock_](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjIxNzkxNGU0LWMzOGQtNGNhMi05ODgxLTMzNjE5NjlmZGE5Nzo0ZDQwN2RjNy05MzczLTRiNzYtYmIzNy1hYWYwMzM4MGUzYTE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. Brecon Beacons National Park
The Brecons Beacons National Park offers plenty of large, open spaces, which are perfect for taking in the night sky (Photo: Shutterstock_ Photo: Shutterstock
![Cranborne Chase is a chalk plateau located in central southern England, straddling the counties straddling the counties Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire (Photo: Shutterstock)](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjYwZWE4NzZmLWNjNWQtNGE1Ny1iMmExLTJjNDBmNDY1MGRlYzpiNmIyYWMyYS03OWZiLTRhNDgtOGI3MS1hNTk1NjNmZmY2NDM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. Cranborne Chase
Cranborne Chase is a chalk plateau located in central southern England, straddling the counties straddling the counties Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire (Photo: Shutterstock) Photo: Shutterstock