A night map of the drive to the observatory, drawn in contour lines: from the M5 at junction 27 along the A361, north on the A396 through Dulverton to Wheddon Cross and up Hollowmoor Lane, about fifty minutes. As the glow of Taunton falls behind, the stars visible overhead rise from about 300 to about 4,500, and the dome opens its slit at the end.
Stars visible overhead
300
Sky brightness 18.3 mag/arcsec²
Hollowmoor Ridge · Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve
Finding the dark
Scroll to drive up from the M5
CosmicLens Observatory
Hollowmoor Ridge, Wheddon Cross, Exmoor, Somerset, England
Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 to 17:00 · Thursday to Saturday until 23:30 · Monday Closed
Opening hours
- Tuesday to Sunday
- 10:00 to 17:00
- Thursday to Saturday
- until 23:30
- Monday
- Closed
VisitRA --h --mDEC --°
Skip introWe are on Hollowmoor Ridge in Exmoor National Park, Europe's first International Dark Sky Reserve. On a clear, moonless night the Milky Way stretches from one horizon to the other.
Where we are
Hollowmoor Ridge
CosmicLens Observatory
Hollowmoor Ridge
Wheddon Cross, Exmoor
Somerset, England
51° 09′ 05″ N 3° 33′ 55″ W
Desk: 01632 960 418
Postcodes cover several square miles of moor here, and some sat-navs send drivers down farm tracks. Use the coordinates above, or follow the brown observatory signs from Wheddon Cross.
Get directionsCosmicLens
Opening hours
Shows run through the day. On late nights the roof deck opens after dark for booked telescope nights.
- Tuesday to SundayPlanetarium, exhibition and café
- 10:00 to 17:00
- Thursday to SaturdayLate shows and the roof deck
- until 23:30
- MondayExcept bank holidays
- Closed
Closed 24 to 26 December and 1 January.
Getting here
By car
From the M5 at junction 27, take the A361 and then the A396 north through Dulverton to Wheddon Cross, about fifty minutes. Turn west onto the B3224 and follow the brown signs up Hollowmoor Lane.
By train
The nearest mainline station is Taunton, about an hour away by car or taxi. In summer the West Somerset Railway runs heritage steam trains to Minehead, twenty minutes north.
By bus
Daytime buses stop at Wheddon Cross, a twenty-minute walk away up a quiet lane. Moorland buses do not run after dark, so plan evening visits by car or taxi.
Free parking for forty cars and two coaches, with low red lighting and four accessible bays beside the entrance.
Accessibility
Everyone should be able to see the sky. If something here does not work for you, tell us before you come and we will do our best to make it work.
- Step-free routes from the car park to the dome, exhibition, café and toilets.
- A lift to the roof deck, with a lowered eyepiece on our refractor for seated observers.
- Four wheelchair spaces with companion seats in the planetarium, beside the entrance.
- Hearing loop at the front desk and in the dome; captioned versions of every film show.
- Relaxed shows on the first Sunday of each month, with the lights a little higher and the sound a little lower.
- Assistance dogs welcome everywhere except the roof deck after dark, where we will gladly look after them indoors.
Dressing for the roof
The deck sits 420 metres up on an open ridge. Even on a mild evening it is several degrees colder than town, and standing still at an eyepiece is colder still. Dress as if for a winter walk, whatever the season.
- A warm hat and gloves
- One more layer than you think
- Sturdy shoes with a good grip
- A flask of something hot
- A red torch, or borrow ours
- A blanket for meteor nights
A dark sky site
Dark sky site. Please use red torches only.
Red torches only
White light ruins everyone’s night vision for twenty minutes. We lend red torches at the desk.
Sidelights on the lane
Please dip to sidelights for the last half mile after dark. Headlights sweep straight across the telescopes.
Phones in red, or away
Turn on red-light mode on this site, or put a red filter on your screen. No flash photography on the deck.
Write to us
Questions, groups and private hire
For school visits, private shows, accessibility needs or anything else, send us a note. One of the team will reply within two working days.
