A NEW study has ranked Snowdonia National Park as the best holiday destination in the world for stargazing.

Ahead of the winter solstice on December 21, holiday rentals marketplace HomeToGo has taken a telescopic look at the data to identify the best holiday spot across the globe in which to see the stars.

The index takes into account ‘Dark Sky Places’ from all over the world, recognised by the International Dark-Sky Association for their exceptionally dark and starry nights.

By comparing the size of each Dark Sky Place, the number of holiday homes available in the vicinity, and the median price per night, HomeToGo identified and ranked the world’s top 15 locations for stargazing while travelling.

And Snowdonia ranked top of the list, with a score of 28.1 out of 30 just edging out Kerry, Ireland in second with 27.

Snowdonia was not the only Welsh destination to make the top 10, either, with Brecon Beacons National Park coming 10th with 23.9 out of 30.

The study said of Snowdonia: “Wales’ oldest National Park became the 10th location in the world to receive Dark Sky Reserve status in December 2015.

“Visitors can head to the picturesque village of Beddgelert (median nightly price for a holiday home: £111.65) to marvel at the stars above the Moel Hebog mountain, or stay in the coastal Aberdyfi (median nightly price for a holiday home: £127.84) to enjoy starscapes by the sea.”

HomeToGo is a marketplace with the world's largest selection of holiday rentals, listing millions of offers from thousands of trusted partners, including Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo and TripAdvisor.

To learn more, visit www.hometogo.co.uk.