7  SEPT TOUR OF BRITAIN COMES TO NORTHUMBERLAND

On Monday 9 September, cycling’s Tour of Britain will bring some of the world’s top cyclists to Northumberland.
This top cycling event is organised by British Cycling, the sport’s governing body in the UK, and is a multi-stage race held over eight days.
Internationally the Tour of Britain is one event in the UCI Europe Tour season in which professional teams from around the world compete. Teams for the Tour of Britain will be announced in the summer and each will pick their six rider line-up from a squad, which may number up to 30 riders.

Tour of Britain in Wooler

The stage passing nearest to Wooler is on day 3 of the Tour. The stage will see 120 of the world’s top cyclists racing from Berwick-Upon-Tweed to Newcastle, building on the success of the 2018 race when some of the World’s top cyclists including Chris Froome took part.

Stage three of the 2019 OVO Energy Tour of Britain will be the first to link all areas of the North of Tyne Combined Authority, with the route taking in Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle Upon Tyne.

The stage will start from the centre of Berwick-upon-Tweed, crossing the Grade I listed Berwick Bridge as the race heads away along the Tweed Valley and onto Ford and Wooler.  The route will race along the Northumberland Coast, including past Bamburgh and Warkworth castles, showcasing the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty through the worldwide television coverage.

After passing through Whitley Bay, Tynemouth, North Shields and Wallsend, the final kilometres will see the race heading alongside the banks of the River Tyne on the Quayside, before turning on to Grey Street for a spectacular uphill city centre finish.

Wooler Wheel
Of course, Wooler is no stranger to cycling events. The Tour will see the pros’ route include sections of the increasingly popular Wooler Wheel sportive routes.

If you are thinking of bringing your own bikes on holiday then Homildon Cottage has space to store them in our lockable games room with a floor 4 bike, dual-height cycle rack. There’s an outdoor tap for washing bicycles and outdoor clothing, and space for drying outdoor clothing and footwear. We also have maps of local bridleways as well as the nearby Sandstone Way. Alternatively why not hire a bike once you’re here?

pic: Eric The Fish from UK (Tour of Britain 2014) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Part three of this captivating series considers the turbulent history of Northumberland during the Middle Ages

Wandering the ruins of Mitford Castle captures an eerie sense of history at the site of what was Britain’s only five-sided keep. Built in the 11th Century, it was burnt to the ground by King John in 1216. It was rebuilt in the early 14th century, only to be confiscated by Henry III and then pillaged by Robert the Bruce.

McVay visits Newminster Abbey, a Cistercian abbey near Morpeth which fell victim to the first wave of dissolution in 1537, and Hulne Priory, a home to “White Friars” near Alnwick. Hulne Priory was the filming location of Marion’s home in the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and sits within Hulne Park. The park is open to the public –although it is not marketed as a visitor attraction and has no visitor facilities.

Moving on to the river gorge of the National Trust’s Allen Banks, McVay muses philosophically, “when you are a traveller, the greatest point of the adventure is not knowing where you are going and that sometimes being lost can be a good thing”.

The final location of this episode is Thirlwall Castle, near Hadrian’s Wall. It is one of many strongholds built in the local area as part of the defence of the English Border against Scottish raids.

Hulne Priory directions

Entry is via the approach from Alnwick, and is restricted to pedestrians only with dogs not permitted. If driving, park on Ratten Row on the north-west edge of Alnwick [map].  Opening hours are generally 11am to sunset each day, but visit the Northumberland Estates website or call the Estate Office on 01665 510777 to check other limitations. Two circular routes along permissive paths visit the abbey – Hulne Park walks map [PDF]

Thirlwall Castle directions

Turn off the A69 to Greenhead, and park near the Church [map].
An easy walk of under 2 miles is suggested by Northumberland National Park – Thirlwall Castle from Greenhead [PDF]

Don’t miss: episode two visited the hidden Hareshaw Linn and Old Bewick.

Next: in episode four, McVay heads into Kielder Forest.

The benefits of visiting Northumberland are much in the news recently.

Earlier this month, the Northumberland National Park was voted the UK’s National Park of the Year while Bamburgh Castle scooped Landmark of the year.

Tonight’s edition of London’s local paper, the Evening Standard, carries a full page on Northumberland, urging the capital’s residents to come and stay. It points out that “England’s northernmost county is less than four hours from London by train, but a world away in terms of sights and scenery”.

Suggesting that booking a break in a rural cottage might allow Londoners “space to gather your thoughts”, it also helpfully points out that many “stand within easy walking distance of cosy country pubs”.

Among the highlights listed are the 684 miles of paths amongst the stunning scenery of Northumberland National Park. Walk along St Cuthbert’s Way, join the climax of the Pennine Way – or simply strike off on your own for mile after mile of empty hill and open countryside.

The nearby coast has many beautiful spots and beaches, studded with castles. The best known of these, Bamburgh Castle, has been the site of a citadel for millennia with a history of occupation dating back to the 1st century BC.

Both the new press campaign and the BBC Countryfile award stressed the joy of stargazing in Northumberland with our Dark Skies, promising the marvel of the starlit heavens and a glimpse of the Milky Way. The Northumberland International Dark Sky Park covers no less than 572 square miles and holds “gold tier” status.

As if all this wasn’t enough to convince weary city dwellers to head to the hills, Virgin Trains are offering a 30% reduction on Off Peak fares booked this month.

With so much going for it, maybe visiting Northumberland is not a hard sell – but well done Northumberland Tourism for their “Love the North” round up of attractions and getting the word out across the country!

Wooler’s public transport connections are centred on its bus station, while inter-city trains serve Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Wooler buses

The bus station, Wooler
(Barbara Carr) / CC BY-SA 2.0

Wooler bus station is located in the heart of town, off the High Street by the Black Bull Inn. Some buses stop elsewhere around and about Wooler: check timetables or ask the driver for details.

Wooler – Berwick-upon-Tweed bus (267 via Etal, Duddo: Monday-Saturday)
Wooler – Berwick-upon-Tweed bus (464 via Lowick: Monday-Saturday)
Wooler – Alnwick bus (418 via Belford) – timetable
Wooler – Alnwick bus (470 via Chillingham)
Wooler – Alnwick bus (473 via Whittingham)
Kelso – Wooler – Newcastle bus (710 via Morpeth: Wednesday & Saturday only)
Wooler – Kirknewton circular bus (266 via Flodden: Wednesday only)
Wooler – Alnwick bus (869 school days only) – timetable [PDF]

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Although timetables were correct at time of writing, we advise checking before travel using the Traveline online journey planner or direct with operators: Border Buses (267, 418, 464), PCL Travel (470, 473) or Glen Valley Tours (473, 869).
Border Buses now provide a live departures board.

Wooler trains

Sadly the train line to Wooler closed many decades ago. In fact Wooler station last accepted passengers back in 1930!

However Berwick-upon-Tweed is served by the East Coast mainline. These high-speed modern trains link to Edinburgh (45mins), London Kings Cross (3.5hr) and York (2hr). Cross country trains also run direct to Glasgow (2hr), Birmingham (4.25hr) and Bristol (6hr).

From Berwick you can travel to Wooler on one of the above buses, or get a local taxi (pre-book from the options below and expect to pay about £30 for the half hour trip). Car rental is another option, or you can cycle from Berwick to Wooler in about 1.5 hours. East Coast and Cross Country inter-city trains carry bikes for free but you should reserve a space in advance.

Some trains serve Alnmouth instead which is another option, albeit further from Wooler. The closest station to Wooler, Chathill, is small and only served by a very limited commuter service from Newcastle. County town Morpeth is also served by a train service, but Berwick-upon-Tweed station will be the better option for most rail travellers to Wooler. Make sure you plan to “Berwick-upon-Tweed [BWK]” and not the similarly named Berwick in Sussex.

Wooler taxis

An excellent local taxi service is provided by Des Hood – 07585 462212. Ron’s Taxis are also a common sight in Wooler, and can be booked on 01668 281281 or 07778 543907. Another option is Border Village Taxi – 01668 216360 or 07765 791348. All will provide station pick-ups from Berwick-upon-Tweed if booked in advance, with multi-seaters available.

Air

Wooler is a fair distance from any air connections – with the closest two major airports being Newcastle (60 mins) and Edinburgh (90 mins)

“Gateway to the Cheviots”

Wooler sits close to the vast, empty expanse of the Northumberland National Park, and is justly known as the “Gateway to the Cheviots”. These hills have been tempting walkers and campers from far and wide to travel to Wooler for more than a hundred years. Wooler’s history is fascinating and for many it also remains “a refuge from the hurry and scurry of modern life”.

We are chuffed to have won a Gold Award to sit alongside our 4 star self-catering cottage status from Visit England.

VisitEngland is the National Tourist Board for England, and explain their Gold Award as:

No matter what the star rating or designator, you can find accommodation which excels in hospitality and service and has top scores for bedrooms, bathrooms, food and cleanliness. These special properties hold a VisitEngland Gold or Silver Award, which offer the ‘best of the best’, regardless of the range of facilities and services they offer. There are 4,536 Gold Award properties and 1,189 with a Silver Award across England.

Homildon Cottage also achieved a clean sweep of the VisitEngland official “Welcome” accreditations.

What a great way to finish 2015 … and we hope to welcome you to our cottage in the course of 2016!

LOCAL DAIRY

Doddington Dairy
Producers of excellent award-winning cheese, ice-cream, biscuits and more, Doddington Dairy is few miles from the cottage. You can’t get much more local than this! The winner of “Best Food Produce” in the BBC Food and Farming Awards 2015, a good range of their goodies is stocked in the Good Life shop in Wooler. The dairy also run Wooler Milk Bar providing excellent ice creams, milk shakes and cooked food to eat in or take away with packs of cheese and more also available.
The Milk Bar also now has a milk machine just outside where you can buy delicious, fresh, ultra-local milk. This is great on your morning cereal!
www.doddingtondairy.co.uk
http://www.doddingtonmilkbar.co.uk

LOCAL BREAD & BAKES

Bread & Roses
Baking “real artisan sourdough breads” and a range of styles of loaves, including the brown using heritage grains from Northumberland’s Gilchester Organics.
Available from local markets and shops such as Chatton Village Store. They also supply the Ad Gefrin bistro in Wooler.
www.breadandroses.co.uk

Traybake Fairy
Delicious fresh local traybakes, coffee and more from the stall outside Railtons on the main road A697.
https://www.facebook.com/traybakefairy/

LOCAL HONEY, JAMS AND CHUTNEYS

Chain Bridge Honey
Chain Bridge Honey up near Horncliffe have been producing delicious sweetness since the mid 20th century. Their set flower honey, “Tweedside”, is widely available locally but they have their shop on site. And a visit comes with the bonus of seeing their collection of vintage vehicles and the near-by Union Chain Bridge.
www.chainbridgehoney.com

LOCALLY ROASTED COFFEE

Northern Edge Coffee
Family-run coffee roasters near Berwick creating high quality, speciality coffee using ethically sourced green beans. Available online and from many outlets locally.
www.northernedgecoffee.co.uk

Pilgrims Coffee
Fresh, perfectly roasted coffee emerges from Pilgrims’ yurt. Buy online or from their cafe on Lindisfarne … or better yet stop a while in their garden for a cup and a scone.
www.pilgrimscoffee.com

LOCAL PUDDINGS

The Proof of the Pudding
Rightly awarded 9 Great Taste and 2 Great British Food awards, Proof of the Pudding stated out in the early 2000s making small batches of baked and steamed puddings in the Aga of the family farmhouse kitchen just north of Alnwick. Available online and many outlets including the Good Life Shop.
www.theproofofthepudding.co.uk

LOCAL BEER

Cheviot Brewery
A micro brewery near Etal which produces traditional cask and bottled ale. It is served on cask at the Black Bull in Lowick or, at the weekend, from the Brewery’s tap room. It has limited indoor seating with a log burning stove but a larger covered outside area, and wood-fired pizza in the summer. It’s popular so best to book before visiting!
cheviotbrewery.co.uk

Hadrian Border Brewery
A selection of regular, locally inspired beers, including Secret Kingdom and Farne Island, plus a monthly special. Often features in local pubs while bottles can be ordered for delivery via Majestic Wine in Berwick or bought from Cornhill Village Shop (20 min drive away).
www.hadrian-border-brewery.co.uk

Wylam Brewery
One of the early wave of the revival of “real” beer, Wylam have been brewing “proper beer for proper people” since 2000 with bottles often available in the Co-op.
www.wylambrewery.co.uk

Sadly the excellent Hetton Law Brewery closed in May 2023.

LOCAL SPIRITS

Ad Gefrin
Having opened in 2023, it will be a few years until the first bottles of Ad Gefrin’s local single malt are ready to drink. In the meantime, their expert distillers in Wooler have created a blend “Tácnbora”, a “thoughtful mix of Scottish and Irish whiskies”. They also make gin, with the first bottles of Thirlings Dry Gin for sale locally and online. This uses “timeless flavours inspired by Northumberland, heather and pine from the Cheviot hills, elderberry and dill from the hedgerows, and Irish moss and sea buckthorn from the coast.”
It is possible to book tours of the distillery in Wooler, or drop in to visit the museum telling the story of Anglo-Saxon past.
adgefrin.co.uk

Alnwick Rum
This blend was first created in the early 1900s to appeal to seafaring Northumbrians, and the company remains based in Alnwick blending rums from Guyana and Jamaica.
www.alnwickrum.com

Hepple Gin
Just about still local, if a little to the south, is this gin utilising three different processes for juniper and as recommended in The Daily Telegraph. Available from Fortnum and Mason.
www.hepple-gin.com

LOCAL VEG

Particularly Good Potatoes
Keep an eye out for these locally grown spuds, available in local shops and restaurants.
www.particularlygood.co.uk

LOCALLY SOURCED MEAT

TR Johnson
Alan and Derrick take pride in their locally sourced produce, with home cured bacon, rare breed sausages and Dexter beef from just 10 miles away. Wooler High Street.
www.trjohnson.co.uk

RG Foreman
A bit of a drive from Wooler, in Norham, this butcher is the place to go for game pies and more. It also offers wine and cheeses.
www.borderbutcher.co.uk/

These are just some of the highlights of the food being produced and grown in Glendale and beyond in north Northumberland. We’d welcome comments and suggestions on others to add to the list or – more importantly perhaps – sink our teeth into!

On this day, 14 September, in the year 1402, the battle of Homildon Hill was fought between the Scots and the English.

History is littered with the ongoing feuding in the Borders, with Scots and English engaging in many bloody battles over the centuries.

Henry IV had been King of England since 1367. In early 1402, the King’s forces were deployed fighting a revolt in Wales. The Scots led by Robert, Duke of Albany and Archibald, Earl of Douglas decided to take the opportunity to invade the north while the English army was busy elsewhere.

Throughout the summer of 1402 the Scots made a number of raids, of which the largest took place in August. The Earl of Douglas and 10,000 men rampaged through Northumberland, as far south as Newcastle, plundering and burning villages as they went.

Harehope Hill

However, they were not to escape “scot-free”! The army was heading back to the border, via the Tweed crossing at Coldstream, but they were laden down with their spoils. To their dismay they were intercepted by the Earl of Northumberland and his infamous son Sir Henry “Hotspur” Percy, whose forces were amassed on the plain near Milfield.

Upon realising they were cut off and would have to fight the English, the Scots headed for high ground, climbing the slopes of Homildon (now Humbleton) Hill, which rises steeply, looming up behind Homildon Cottage.

The English, seeing the Scots’ position, sent a force of archers ahead who climbed Harehope Hill, a hill neighbouring Homildon Hill with just a deep gulley between.

From this position, the English – and Welsh – archers loosed a volley of arrows which rained down on the Scots forces, whose armour was no match for the arrows “which fell like a storm of rain”. Lacking the archery tradition so valued in England, the Scots’ bowmen were generally not as proficient and their bows less powerful. In a long range archery duel such as this, there was no competition.

The ill-fated Scottish horse charge (from Cassell’s Illustrated History of England (1895))

The Scotichronicon, written in the 1440s by Walter Bower, recounted the battle from the Scottish point of view. It describes “The English bowmen, advancing towards the Scots, smothered them with arrows and made them bristly like a hedgehog, transfixing the hands and arms of the Scots to their own lances. By means of this very harsh rain of arrows they made some duck, they wounded others, and killed many.”

The Scots tried sending small bands of horsemen, including the Earl of Douglas, to attempt an attack on the archers from close range. This was unsuccessful – the riders were picked off by the archers just as easily and soon the Scots had to admit defeat. Routed, the battle was over in an hour. Some tried to escape and, by all accounts, a large number of men drowned while trying to flee across the river Tweed.

The battle had a significant impact on future events. Many valuable Scottish prisoners were taken by the Percys during the battle, but King Henry demanded these prisoners were handed over to him. This sowed seeds of future trouble between “Hotspur” Percy and King Henry. Indeed, the battle was immortalised in the words of William Shakespeare in Henry IV, part 1.

Here is a dear, a true industrious friend,
Sir Walter Blunt, new lighted from his horse.
Stain’d with the variation of each soil
Betwixt that Holmedon and this seat of ours;
And he hath brought us smooth and welcome news.
The Earl of Douglas is discomfited:
Ten thousand bold Scots, two and twenty knights,
Balk’d in their own blood did Sir Walter see
On Holmedon’s plains. Of prisoners, Hotspur took
Mordake the Earl of Fife, and eldest son
To beaten Douglas; and the Earl of Athol,
Of Murray, Angus, and Menteith:
And is not this an honourable spoil?
A gallant prize? ha, cousin, is it not?
– Shakespeare, Henry IV, part 1, act 1, scene 1.

Come and marvel at the stars and planets revealed by a truly dark night sky

Northumberland International Dark Sky Park is officially the best place in England to gaze in marvel at the stars. The International Dark Sky Association has awarded the park its top “gold tier” designation. The park is Europe’s largest area of protected night sky, some 572 square miles, and the third largest Gold Tier Dark Sky Park in the world.

Darkest skies in England

Northumberland National Park’s status as the darkest in England was confirmed in recent work by the Campaign to Protect Rural England. The CPRE analysed satellite imagery from September 2015 to produce a map of England’s light pollution and dark skies. The map was produced from data gathered by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration via satellite visible and infrared imagery to determine the levels of light spilling up into British skies. This revealed 96% of the Northumberland National Park to have pristine night skies and very little light pollution elsewhere.

Stay and Gaze

Homildon is a “Dark Sky Stay and Gaze” cottage

Homildon Cottage holds “Stay and Gaze” status, in recognition of our facilities for enjoying the night skies. It is lucky enough to sit on the edge of the dark sky park, allowing the spectacle to be enjoyed from the comfort of our back garden. The cottage is fully equipped for the budding stargazer from guides to our very own telescope!

Alternatively the cottage makes a great starting point to hike up a hill for wilderness stargazing – Humbleton Hill just next door to the house makes for a phenomenal view of the skies. For those who prefer to be guided, you can join a Northumberland Stargazing Event or extend a NEWT wildlife safari into the hours of darkness.

What can you see in the dark sky?

Perhaps four fifths of the UK population has never experienced a truly dark sky or the sense of wonder that it inspires. The glory of the Milky Way is revealed along with hundreds of stars visible to the naked eye. Shooting stars are another highlight especially during peaks of activity such as the Perseids.

The autumn and winter months, when the nights draw in, are an excellent time for stargazing. It also helps if the moon is not too full. These factors combine to allow for a properly dark night sky. However the wonder of the brightest stars and our fellow planets in the solar system can be experienced on a clear night throughout the year.

See the Northern Lights?

If you are very lucky, you may see the aurora borealis (or Northern Lights), a spectacular natural phenomenon rarely seen in the night sky over Britain. These light up the night sky with a green glow as solar wind hits the upper atmosphere. For the latest scientific data and alerts on possible northern lights events, see AuroraWatch UK.

Stargazing equipment

Stargazing equipment at Homildon Cottage
Some of the best stargazing is simply wondering at the majesty of a truly dark sky with the naked eye. However as a designated Stay & Gaze holiday cottage, we provide some equipment to ensure you can enjoy our dark skies to the utmost. We supply:

• Red torches (to preserve your night vision)
• Binoculars
• Small, basic telescope (a Visionary FirstView)
• Planisphere
• Beginners’ astronomy guidebook
• Outdoor blankets
• Our outdoor decking provides a viewing area on-site away from outside lighting while being accessible from the house. There is seating and a table.
• Picnic rug (for lying on the grass)
• Large thermos for soup or hot drinks

What to bring to enjoy the night skies
We provide the stargazing essentials but some nights it’s worth wrapping up warm!

• Warm clothes
• Hat, gloves
• iPad or smart phone if you want to use a stargazing app

https://twitter.com/photo_amk/status/1094229136879554560

Which stargazing app?

There are now lots of great stargazing apps to instal on your smart phone or iPad. Most of these work by allowing you to point your device at the sky and get information on exactly what you are looking at. This is our pick of some of the best:

Star Chart
£0
A free app, point your phone at the sky and it will tell you what you are looking at. It has a night mode as well as “Time Shift” to travel back or forward 10,000 years.

iOS | Android

Star Walk 2
£1.98-2.29
Top notch app. Lots of information accessible by tapping objects on screen. It shows the orbital path of a planet or moon so you’ll know when it will be visible.

iOS | Android

Sky Guide
£0.99
Our personal favourite: lots of information with a clean interface. This 2014 Apple design award winner allows you to search for a star, and the app will guide you to it by following a pop up arrow.

iOS only

Fascinating Google Map mashup of light pollution across Europe – the Northumberland Dark Sky Park can be seen as the patch of black!

Pic: andy [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Find out more about the cottage and why our location makes a perfect base for some stargazing.

The second part of this excellent series continues exploring the sequestered wonders of Northumberland

This episode begins by the cascading waters of Hareshaw Linn, once the centre of iron smelting industry yet now the sound of the falls is all that dominates while being home to many rare ferns and lichen as well as red squirrels.

Moving further north brings McVay to Old Bewick, some 20 minutes from Homildon, with a backdrop of the majestic Cheviots. The village is notable for the nearby double hill fort. His wanderings through the Bronze Age ruins set in such beautiful hills offer a glimpse of the very special, some would say entrancing, atmosphere of this part of north Northumberland: “You get the strangest feeling of being alone in these hills”.

The walk up to the ruined farm at Blawearie is recommended. Over 100 years ago, excavations of the Bronze Age Blawearie Cairn discovered the stone lined graves mentioned in the film along with jewellery and pottery.

Duddo Five Stones have been dubbed Northumberland’s answer to Stonehenge. This Neolithic monument sits atop a small mound with views of the Cheviots and the Eildon Hills in nearby Scotland. The five standing stones are striking to see and archaeologist Roger Miket has described the stone circle as “Undoubtedly the most complete and dramatically situated in Northumberland”.

Hareshaw Linn

An easy walk of 1.5 miles from Bellingham – Hareshaw Linn walk [PDF]

Old Bewick directions

If driving, turn off the A697 at the Eglingham turning, taking the left signed for Chillingham at the end [map]. Blawearie is a 6.5km (4 mile) walk from Old Bewick, returning via the hill forts via the Alnwick Wildlife Group website – A Favourite Walk – Old Bewick to Blawearie and back via Bewick Hill

Duddo Stones

Visiting is free. Approaching Duddo from the south, turn left and follow the road until you see a sign beside a field gate on the right-hand side of the road. Park here to walk about 1km along a permissive path.

Don’t miss: episode one of this excellent series visited the hidden St. Cuthbert’s cave and Edlingham.

Next: in episode three, McVay explores some of Northumberland’s Medieval castles and dissolved abbeys.

Pic: John Haddington [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

The Perseids meteor shower hits its peak this Wednesday night. The annual light show will provide night owls with some one hundred “shooting stars” an hour.

Regarded as one of the more “reliable” meteor showers, the Perseids provide plenty of wonder for the amateur night sky watcher. This year, the shower will coincide with a new moon for the first time since 2007. The darker moonless sky allows more meteors to be observed. Even better the forecast is for largely cloud-free skies allowing an uninterrupted view of this spectacle.

Another important aspect of viewing in dark skies is getting away from artificial light. Homildon abuts the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park which makes for perfect viewing being Europe’s largest area of protected night sky, awarded gold tier designation by the International Dark Sky Association. If you are heading out into the dark, take a red light torch rather than a regular one to protect your night vision – you can even make your own.

Watch the Perseids

This year’s Shooting Star Spectaculars at the Kielder Observatory may be fully booked but there is no need for any special equipment to view the Perseids – just watch the sky and keep your eyes peeled. The visible rate is greatest in the hours before dawn. However although evening to midnight sees a lower rate, it also has a chance of seeing particularly bright meteors or “fireballs”.

Radiant of the Perseids

The Perseids appear to originate from the same point in the sky, near the constellation Perseus from which they gained their name. From this “radiant”, however, they can appear to travel in any direction. Nasa advises to “look towards the familiar constellations Cassiopeia and Perseus in the north-east”.

Once you are well away from light pollution, and for the best chance of seeing the shower, lie flat on your back for a panoramic view of the night sky.

The excellent Dark Sky Diary explains that the number of meteors seen every hour depends on the density of the dust cloud hitting the atmosphere at that moment, the height above the horizon of the radiant, the darkness of your sky and how cloudy it is.

What are the Perseids?

The meteors are actually debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle, long broken away leaving a plume trailing through space. Every August the Earth’s orbit intersects this plume, causing a light show as particles of ice and dust hit the Earth’s atmosphere. Although these are tiny – from the size of a grain of sand to around as big as a pea – they are traveling at high speed, around 60km/s. At that speed, it would take less than a minute and a half to travel from Homildon to New York City! This means the air in front is compressed when the meteor hits the atmosphere, the air in front of it compresses incredibly quickly. Those who remember Boyle’s law from school will realise this results in the gas temperature rapidly rising, causing the meteor to heat up so much that it glows. The air burns the meteor until there is nothing left.

If you miss the next couple of nights, do not despair! Although the Perseids meteor shower peaks in mid-August it builds up each year from around 17 July running through to 24 August, even if only a few meteors an hour are visible as it tails off.

Perseids meteor radiant diagram from NASA and picture crop from Brocken Inaglory (own work) [GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons