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Spiritual Barnsley
If you live in or near Barnsley, this page brings the night sky, the old sites and the seasons together in one place. It covers where to find properly dark skies, what the sun and moon are doing across the year at Barnsley's latitude (53.6°N), the heritage and folklore places nearby, and when to order so your crystals, tarot or candles arrive in time.
Monk Bretton Priory, Barnsley. Photo: Tony Grist, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Region South Yorkshire
- Dark skies Yorkshire Dales International Dark Sky Reserve
- Delivery UK delivery £3.95, free over £40, 2–5 working days
Places to visit
Real photographs, with directions. Tap a map link to open the exact spot.
History, folklore and tips
The history
Monk Bretton Priory was founded around 1154 and became a Benedictine house; its ruins, cared for by English Heritage, are among the best-preserved in South Yorkshire. Cannon Hall, home of the Spencer-Stanhope family for over 200 years, is now a museum with walled gardens.
Visiting tips
- Monk Bretton Priory is free and open in daylight hours; parking is on the road.
- Cannon Hall's park and gardens are free, with a charge for parking.
- The Yorkshire Dales Dark Sky Reserve is about an hour north-west.
From the shop
Shop for Barnsley
Crystals and tumble stones, delivered across Barnsley. UK delivery £3.95, free over £40, 2–5 working days.
Sky almanac for Barnsley
Dark skies and stargazing near Barnsley
Dark skies and stargazing near Barnsley
The nearest certified dark-sky place to Barnsley is Yorkshire Dales International Dark Sky Reserve, about 88 km (55 miles) away as the crow flies. The next nearest is North York Moors International Dark Sky Reserve, about 99 km (61 miles) away. The best nights are clear, moonless ones around a new moon. The next new moons are on 9 November, 9 December, 7 January, 6 February. Find event dates on the Yorkshire Dales International Dark Sky Reserve website.
Sunrise, sunset and the moon in Barnsley
Sunrise, sunset and the moon in Barnsley
At the June solstice on 21 June 2027, the sun rises in Barnsley at about 04:36 and sets at about 21:39 (BST), giving 17h 3m of daylight, 25 minutes more than in London. At the December solstice on 21 December 2026 it rises at about 08:20 and sets at about 15:48 (GMT), giving only 7h 27m. Around the March equinox (20 March 2027), sunrise is about 06:11 and sunset about 18:17. Between roughly 15 May and 31 July, the sun never sinks far enough below the horizon for full astronomical darkness, so the faintest stars and the Milky Way are hard to see. In folk tradition the full moon marks the month. The next full moons fall on 24 November, 24 December, 22 January, 20 February, 22 March. Times are calculated (NOAA formulas) and approximate.
Best times of year
Best times of year
Autumn and winter give Barnsley its best skies: darkness comes early and the air is often clearer after a cold front.
For the Perseids in August 2027 the moon is 84% lit and sets over Barnsley at about 01:03, so the best watching is after moonset and before dawn. Full darkness on 12 August starts around 23:25 at 53.6°N.
The Quadrantids peak on the night of 3–4 January 2027 with the moon 12% lit. They are short and sharp, best after midnight, and the January cold means layers and a flask are essential.
Yorkshire Dales International Dark Sky Reserve is about 88 km away if you want truly dark skies; otherwise a park or field away from streetlights will still show the brighter meteors.
On 2 August 2027 a partial solar eclipse is visible across the UK, weather permitting. Never look at the sun without certified eclipse glasses.
Barnsley: local questions
Where is the nearest dark sky reserve to Barnsley?
The nearest certified dark-sky place is Yorkshire Dales International Dark Sky Reserve, roughly 88 km away in a straight line.
What time is sunrise in Barnsley on the summer solstice?
About 04:36 BST on 21 June 2027, with sunset about 21:39.
Are there ancient or sacred sites near Barnsley?
Yes. Nearby places include Monk Bretton Priory, Cannon Hall. See the heritage section for details.
How much is delivery to Barnsley?
UK delivery to Barnsley is £3.95 and free on orders over £40. Most orders arrive within 2–5 working days.
Photographs are from Wikimedia Commons under the licences shown, resized and converted for the web. Folklore is described as tradition. Starseed UK makes no health claims for any product.