The Cambrian Mountains have been awarded with six new stellar Dark Sky Discovery Sites, cementing their position as a global celestial hotspot.

The six new spots are in addition to the three previously established sites in the Cambrian Mountains and have contributed to the creation of an Astro-tourism trail in the area.

Dafydd Wyn Morgan, the project manager for Dyfodol Cambrian Futures which is running the new Astro-trail, told the Cambrian News: “The Cambrian Mountains is one of the best places in the world to view dark skies.

“The clear skies offer incredible views of the Milky Way, meteor showers and the International Space Station when it passes over.

"By day the Astro-trail allows you to discover a community woodland brimming with wildlife, the UK’s tallest reservoir, a 12th century abbey and mining heritage stretching back to Roman times.”

The official opening and celebration, branded a Star Party, took place at the Llyn Brianne Reservoir site and the Royal Oak Inn pub on Saturday, 19 October.

The Star Party ran from 7pm to 10pm and was attended by guest of honour Alyn Wallace, an astro, landscape and time-lapse photographer.

With the introduction of the Astro-trail, Dafydd hopes to hold more Star Parties in the community. They have already received invitations to work with local communities who are excited to make use of the new Dark Sky Sights. The Star Parties may entail going outside with a blanket and a flask or talks from astro-photographers.

But Dafydd also said that they own a planetarium, which can fit around 12 people inside and can be transported to various communities.

The idea to introduce an Astro-trail in the Cambrian Mountains came greatly from Dafydd’s own interest in astro-photography and his many walks in the mountains with his camera.

He said: “I attended a course by Simon Tune and then got into nightscape photography, in the streets of Tregaron first, then out in the countryside.”

Dafydd invited Alyn Wallace as a guest of honour as he was initially “inspired” by Alyn after seeing his images at an event in the Elan Valley.

See this week’s south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now