DUSK to DARK SKIES HIKES
at nature’s pace

Explore how you sense things differently on a thrilling dusk to dark skies hike. Step away from artificial lighting and experience how the mind wanders and the imagination kicks in.

As night descends, the world changes and the way we experience what’s around us becomes more acute. Never more so than when out amongst nature and wildlife! Exhilarating, thrilling and sometimes even a little scary! What will we hear? What will see? How will will feel? Experience the screeches, snuffles and scuffles of night-time nature connection.

The story of people’s mass disconnection from the dark started in 1880, when the inventor Joseph Swan lit up his home in north-east England with incandescent electric bulbs for the first time. In most ways it was a boon for humanity, but what is rarely considered, is the loss of something very precious. Increasing amounts of research shows that artificial lighting is bad for our health, disrupting sleep patterns, linking to obesity, poor memory and an increased risk of cancer.

Understanding the dark side of the landscape is not just about seeing or hearing interesting animals, but noticing how darkness feels and learning to be comfortable with it. The mind wanders and the imagination kicks in.

On these hikes we’ll use all our senses to explore how a nocturnal walk can reconnect us with nature for our own health and well-being and that of nature.

Ruth is a qualified Mountain Leader and Cumbria Dark Skies Ambassador.

DUSK to DARK SKIES hikes will be back in Autumn 2024