Our stargazing experience with Rob during our stay at Lon Lodges near Rhayader was absolutely stellar! As soon as I made the booking weeks beforehand, Rob got in touch to organise a quick phone call — not just to introduce himself, but also to honestly explain that the full moon would limit what we could see and to check if we were still interested. That openness set the tone from the start; it was clear he wasn’t just taking a booking, but genuinely wanted us to have the best possible experience. He also asked about our level of knowledge of the night sky so he could shape the session to our interests.

In the days leading up to the evening, Rob kept in touch via Whatsapp and was incredibly flexible, ready to adjust plans at the last minute to work around clouds, rain, and our own schedule. I’d arranged the session as a surprise for my partner’s birthday, and his accommodating approach took a great deal of stress out of the clandestine planning! It really felt like great value, given how much time he spent preparing and being ready to come over at the drop of a hat, acknowledging the changeable weather.

Even with the bright moon out there was more than enough interesting content up Rob's sleeve to make the session worthwhile. The session included a combination of 'constellation hopping' with the naked eye and mind bending demos of the incredible photography of nebulae, star clusters and galaxies far far away that was achievable with the smart telescope. What stood out most was how much care Rob put into tailoring the evening to us. He even brushed up on mythology from different cultures to connect with my partner’s enthusiasm for the stories of the night sky. That personal touch made the session feel truly special.

We had a brilliant time, learned so much, and enjoyed Rob’s company immensely. His passion and knowledge really brought the stars to life, and it was an unforgettable highlight of our trip. It must be a tough gig competing with the forces of nature on Earth and in space, all whilst coordinating with human requirements and expectations - but Rob handled it all with modesty and unintimidating charm. We’d wholeheartedly recommend this experience to anyone visiting the area.

Tori and Matt.