One of the greatest privileges of welcoming guests to Warksburn Old Church is seeing the building and its surrounding Northumbrian landscape through their eyes, and through their lenses. We are delighted to share these remarkable long-exposure night-sky photographs captured during a recent autumn stay by our guests, Phillip and Ashlie, who joined us to celebrate a special family birthday.
Framing the 1875 gable end, rose window, and warm-lit Victorian stained glass against a canopy of stars and pine silhouettes, the composition was inspired by Phillip’s dad, Tony, who suggested this particular angle looking up from the grounds.
A 5-Star Birthday Celebration
Alongside sharing their photographs, Ashlie also left us a wonderful 5-star review on Airbnb following their stay:
"A stunning property in a lovely, quiet location. Everything in the house was of very high quality and spotless. Anne and Alan were great hosts, greeting us on arrival and giving us an informed tour of the property. A lovely place to celebrate a family birthday. The documentary of the transformation of the church was fascinating. The technology in this passivhaus was very impressive. We will definitely return."
Ashlie, 5★ Airbnb Review (October 2026)
Officially Dark Skies Friendly, Right From Your Private Patio
Because Warksburn Old Church sits in a peaceful rural spot outside the village of Wark, on the boundary of the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, there is minimal light pollution to compete with the night sky.
As officially accredited Dark Skies Friendly Accommodation, you don’t even need to pack up the car or trek out into the hills to enjoy world-class stargazing. Step straight out of the church doors onto the private guest patio and landscaped garden, look up, and you have a front-row seat to the cosmos in complete peace and privacy. And when the crisp Northumbrian night air finally nips at your fingers, you can step straight back inside to the cosy, draught-free 21°C warmth of our Passivhaus-certified sanctuary.
For guests who want to peer even deeper into the cosmos through professional telescopes, Warksburn Old Church also enjoys a truly unique local advantage: the Battlesteads Dark Sky Observatory (in the grounds of the eco-friendly Battlesteads Hotel in Wark) is a public astronomical observatory located literally a two-minute walk down the road from the church. And a short drive further up the North Tyne valley sits the world-renowned Kielder Observatory, perched high in Kielder Forest under some of the darkest protected skies in Europe. You can find more details on local recommendations in our Curated Guest Guides.
For the Astrophotographers: How the Shot Was Captured
For fellow photographers and stargazers planning a visit, Phillip kindly shared the technical settings used to balance the softly glowing stained glass with the pinpoint stars above:
- Focal Length: 18mm
- Aperture: f/3.5
- ISO: 400
- Shutter Speed: 20-second exposure
- Composition Credit: Suggested by Tony, photographed by Phillip.
Our warmest thanks to Phillip, Ashlie, and Tony for celebrating with us and sharing these stunning images. We look forward to welcoming you back!
Ready to experience Northumberland’s pristine dark skies from the comfort of our 5-star Passivhaus retreat? Check our live availability and book your stay today.
