One of Northumberland’s star attractions has been featured in a once-in-a-lifetime holiday experience offer.

The Destination: Darkness UK tour is the first of its kind and offers an unconventional seven-day break that swaps sandy beaches for shooting stars.

Kielder Forest is the first stop after a five-hour drive from Greenwich’s Royal Observatory on a week-long tour, which takes in the United Kingdom’s three “darkest spots” this summer.

The tour has been created by bespoke travel agency Travel Matters, in partnership with The Sexton Single Malt Whiskey.

Ellie Macdonald, astronomer at Kielder Observatory, said: “Hidden away atop a hill in the most remote part of the North East of England, Kielder Observatory opens its doors, and its telescopes, to the public every night.

“As darkness pushes in, bright stars pierce the sky until, before you know it, the sky is awash with them.

“A sea of stars stretching horizon-to-horizon.

“At Kielder we firmly believe that we see best when darkness finally sets in. Here you can see more than the world, you can see the Universe.”

Guests will be based at Langley Castle near Haydon Bridge for the three nights that they are in Northumberland, before completing the rest of their tour.

Next, they will move onto North Wales and Snowdonia National Park, where stunning views of the Milky Way await, before the trip is rounded off in the Brecon Beacons.