The Enchanted Forest in Faskally Wood, Pitlochry. Photograph: Ian Georgeson/ Ian Georgeson Photography View image in fullscreen The Enchanted Forest in Faskally Wood, Pitlochry. Photograph: Ian Georgeson/ Ian Georgeson Photography Travel Some enchanted evenings: 10 of the best after-dark adventures for families in the UK The clocks go back this weekend, so embrace the longer nights with these family-friendly activities and events, from a stargazing festival to moonlit crazy golf
Prefer the Guardian on Google The Enchanted Forest, Scotland Legend has it that Faskally Forest – the Pitlochry location of Scotland’s most famous sound and light show – steals an hour from time itself every 25 years. This year marks a quarter of a century since the first Enchanted Forest, and the theme taps into the legend: Stop the Clock: The 25th Hour. The trail is a mystical, atmospheric wander through jewel-hued woodland, with misbehaving clocks, time-themed installations and immersive soundscapes creating the sense of a dreamlike world. There are autism-friendly sessions and free carers’ tickets and an accessibility bus for those with mobility issues. Until 8 Nov , adults from £28.50 , kids from £15.50 , family from £78.50 , including shuttle bus to and from the event
View image in fullscreen Even a beginner stargazer will find it easy to navigate an autumn night sky, when the stars are at their clearest and constellations such as Orion’s Belt and the Plough flicker and gleam with an iridescent glow. The North Pennines has some of the darkest skies in the country, along with the highest number of official Dark Skies discovery sites in the UK – 16 – making the region’s stargazing festival one of the best. Choose from a family astronomy event at Grassholme Observatory (pictured), a dark skies stroll or stargazing on Alston Moor . All events need to be booked in advance. Until 1 Nov , prices vary
View image in fullscreen Photograph: Tilt The banks of the Mersey and some of Liverpool’s most iconic spots blaze with colour during this annual free outdoor light art festival, which brings together 13 original works on the theme of “together”. Installations include 6-metre high peonies at the Cunard Building, which remain white by day but glow with ever-changing colours after dark, and Dream Herd, a floating cloud of sheep with interactive “legs” that trigger lighting and sound changes when touched. Over on Williamson Square, Pop! consists of five tall, colourful boxes that spring open like jack-in-the-boxes when people clap, sing or talk to them, revealing inflatable puppets. The installations will light up from 5pm–9pm each night, with quiet hours 4pm-5pm on 28 Oct and 1 Nov. 23 Oct – 1 Nov , free
View image in fullscreen Photograph: Mick Durham FRPS/Alamy From badger banquets to batwatching safaris, many wildlife trusts and nature reserves run special late openings and events at this time of year to allow visitors to enjoy the nocturnal activities of their resident species. At RSPB Frampton Marsh in Lincolnshire you can look out for hunting owls, marsh harriers and starling murmurations on a sunset walk (fortnightly on Saturdays, adults £19, adult members £15.50, children £10), while RSPB Mersehead in Dumfries and Galloway will be running its popular badger banquets , where visitors can observe the shy mammals feeding through the glass windows of the reserve’s Sulwath Centre (24 & 30 Oct, 6, 14 & 20 Nov, adults £28, adult RSPB members £22.60, children £14.50…