A super-rare partial solar eclipse will take place on August 12th and will be one of the biggest astronomical events of the decade, particularly across Europe. Viewers will see around 90% of the Sun covered by the Moon across the British Isles—and to top it all off, it’s happening the very same day as the Perseid meteor shower peaks.
While it will be fully visible in some parts of the continent, such as Iceland and Spain, the UK will experience a partial eclipse, so getting the right spot is very important.
UK Google searches show there have been 174,000 searches for “Solar eclipse of August 12, 2026” in the past 30 days alone. That’s why car rental experts SIXT have done the research to find the best places in the UK to see the partial eclipse, looking at metrics such as cloud cover and solar obscuration.
Malham Cove named one of the best spots to witness the upcoming solar eclipse
A true North Yorkshire gem, Malham Cove came in fifth place in the rankings, making it a pretty competitive place to see this rare upcoming solar eclipse. With a 50/50 chance of cloud cover, and peaking at 312m above sea level, Malham Cove combines its myths and mystery with near-perfect viewing opportunities to create the North’s almost unrivalled eclipse-spotting location.
With an overall score of 60.7, you can reach Malham Cove by train from Manchester, getting to Skipton within two hours, then around a half hour bus ride or slightly shorter car journey. Trust us though, it’s worth it.
Yorkshire & Cumbria dominate the list for the North
Alongside Malham Cove, the wonderful Sutton Bank in the North York Moors also made the list, alongside St Bees Head in Cumbria, all making stunning trips for the likes of us in Manchester. If you’re looking to travel further afield for this very special occasion, consider locations like Strumble Head in St Davids, St Agnes Head in Truro, or the stunning Galloway Forest Park in Dumfries, which unsurprisingly tops the bill.
The top 10 west-facing spots to catch the solar eclipse on August 12th
- Galloway Forest Park, Dumfries and Galloway
- Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire
- Exmoor National Park (Valley of Rocks / Countisbury area), Devon and Somerset
- St Agnes Head, Cornwall
- Malham Cove, North Yorkshire
- Rhossili Down, Swansea
- Sutton Bank (North York Moors National Park), North Yorkshire
- The Giant’s Causeway, County Antrim
- Brean Down, Somerset
- St Bees Head, Cumbria
- Devil’s Dyke (South Downs National Park), West Sussex
- New Forest National Park, Hampshire
- Durdle Door, Dorset
How to best capture the solar eclipse
Looking at the Sun with the naked eye, or through ordinary sunglasses, can cause permanent eye damage. Even very dark sunglasses do not block enough harmful solar radiation, so they should never be used for eclipse viewing.
Top tips
- Arrive early
- Manage expectations
- Bring layers
- Use proper eclipse glasses
- Try an indirect view
- Turn it into a day out
