Where in scotland can i see the northern lights

The midnight sun makes it impossible to see the northern lights. The best time to see the northern lights in Scotland is December through February , the darkest months of the year. You could celebrate Christmas in a loch-side lodge, toast Hogmanay the New Year in January in Edinburgh, or take advantage of less rain in February. For the best chance to see the aurora in Scotland, plan a multi-night itinerary to several of these places — this will improve your odds! This makes them a good destination to see the northern lights in winter!

Stay away from places with street lightning such as Lerwick or you will be disappointed. The Orkney islands are an archipelago of 70 islands in northern Scotland. Some of the best places to watch include the coast at Birsay, the beach at Dingieshowe, or the top of Wideford Hill.

There is even a Facebook group called Orkney Aurora Group where local residents and enthusiasts post the latest information. The Isle of Lewis and Isle of Harris are two islands, joined together, set off the north west of the Scottish Highlands. There is little to no light pollution here, which means the skies are open, dark and clear — perfect conditions for a possible sighting of the northern lights.

There are lots of remote beaches on the Isle of Harris which sits to the south, and the open flat countryside of Lewis offers up large empty landscapes perfect for good views. Uist and Barra are also part of the Outer Hebrides and boast clear skies too!

The wildness of the west only adds to the experience of staying on these gorgeous islands. The Isle of Skye is an island set off the west coast of Scotland and is known to be a good location for aurora sightings in Scotland — especially to the north of the island.

There are many remote regions which are away from light pollution, so you won't struggle to find somewhere quiet to sit and wait. There are a good few Dark Sky Discovery sites on the island. Glendale, where you will also find the famous Fairy Pools, is said to be a good location where they have been seen on occasion, but there is no telling where the lights will show face; you just need to stay remote.

The Moray Coast sits north of the Highlands and takes in the northern coast between Nairn and Aberdeen. There is much to be seen along this coastline including traditional coastal villages, lovely sandy beaches, historic castles and ruins, and beautiful woodlands.

Inland, you will find lots of lovely countryside to explore and the Cairngorms National Park which reaches into Moray, with Glenlivet and Tomintoul being great towns to visit — this is proper whisky country! Grab your blanket and hip flasks and make an event of aurora watching. Log In Register now My account. By Alex Finnis Reporter. November 4, pm Updated pm. Aurora borealis was most visible in Scotland, but could be seen as far south as Devon.

The freshest exclusives and sharpest analysis, curated for your inbox Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing! As well as chasing the aurora, you could admire frozen waterfalls, glassy fjords, or snowy wildernesses in these Nordic regions.

Or venture elsewhere in Northern Europe in winter to enjoy a dedicated northern lights tour. Get in touch with our travel team to explore your options. Wanderlust has taken Emma across much of the world, but it was Scotland that she made her adopted home. We'd love to give you the same amazing travel experiences as you read about in our blog!

To visit the destinations and attractions mentioned in this post - and to discover a few new highlights along the way - check out these recommended Nordic Visitor tours. Search Packages. Change destination. Travel Info. Contact us Live Chat. Reviews Privacy policy Cookies Sitemap. Start exploring Scotland winter tour packages What are the northern lights? Share on Facebook Share on Twitter. Post by: Emma Gillies Wanderlust has taken Emma across much of the world, but it was Scotland that she made her adopted home.

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