Stargazing Scotland
Where is the best place to see the Northern Lights in Scotland? You don’t need to travel outside of the UK to see the Northern Lights. There have been numerous sightings of the Northern Lights in Scotland already this year. With sightings over the Moray Firth, in Aberdeenshire and even in Angus so far, it looks like October 2023 could be the time to catch this amazing sight. We’ve put together a list of the best places to see the Northern Lights in Scotland. And if you don’t get lucky, all is not lost. Scotland’s dark skies and lack of light pollution means it’s the perfect place for stargazing, with spectacular views of the constellations and the Milky Way on cloudless nights.
1. Moray
Stargazers were treated to spectacular displays over the Moray Firth seen from Kinloss and Cullen Harbour in the first days of October this year. Increased solar activity took place when the skies were cloudless. These were perfect conditions for a spectacular display of the Aurora Borealis on 2nd, 3rd and 4th October. Moray is one of the more southern parts of Scotland where you regularly see this amazing phenomenon.
2. The Cairngorms National Park
Close by, the Cairngorm’s wide open spaces and large expanses of dark skies, make it a great destination for some night sky gazing. Tomintoul & Glenlivet, in the Cairngorms National Park, have recently been awarded Dark Sky Park status.
The park hosts multiple Dark Skies Discovery Sites. Discovery sites are easily accessible sites, without light pollution, where you can park up and enjoy the celestial display from the comfort of your own camper. Longer nights and (hopefully) still clear skies in October make it a good time to visit. You can find a list of all the Dark Skies Discovery Sites, stargazing tips and news of stargazing events at Visit Scotland. The Tomintoul Discovery Centre is worth a visit. It has a new exhibition with Augmented and Virtual Reality exhibits that explore the night skies, including the Aurora Borealis.
3. The Shetland Isles
For a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights, head… well, north! Probably not one for sun seekers, the Shetland Islands are the most northerly part of Scotland. With short days and long nights (only 6 hours of daylight in the winter), and the closest part of Scotland to the North Pole, the Shetlands are the best place to get a sighting. Starseekers should head to Unst where Wild Skies Scotland have created the Sky Trail – an interactive guide for exploring the night skies, history and geography of Unst.
4. The Northern Highlands
An easier option is to head to the highland regions of Sutherland and Caithness. Recommended spots for sightings are along the northern coastline of Sutherland such as Castletown or Thurso, or John O’Groats, on the north eastern tip. Autumn can be a phenomenal time to drive the NC500, albeit with the possibility of unpredictable weather. With a backdrop of autumnal leaves and the roars of the stags as a soundtrack, the Northern Highlands are at their most dramatic. Wildlife watchers will get the chance to spot grey seals, as they head to the shore to have their pups in Autumn, dolphins off the coast and birds of prey soaring overhead, perhaps even peregrine falcons.
5. The Orkney Islands – the best place to see the Northern Lights in Scotland?
The Orkney Islands are regularly blessed with fantastic displays from the Aurora Borealis during the Autumn and Winter months. Residents claim this is the best place to see the Northen Lights in Scotland. There’s even an Orkney Aurora Facebook group for help and advice. It is a private group, however, and they are very serious about their Aurora watching. They only allow members with a link to the islands or a strong interest in the Aurora. So we can tell you that popular spots with clear views north for Aurora spotting are said to be Inganess Bay, the Ring of Brodgar, the Brough of Birsay, and the Broch of Gurness.
6. The Hebrides
There have been sightings from many of the islands in the Outer Hebrides so visit this island chain in the Autumn and Winter and you may well get lucky. One of the Inner Hebrides, the Isle of Coll has been designated a Dark Sky Community. It is a perfect spot for exploring the night skies as its lack of mountains avoid cloud build up. As a result it can be clear and drier than other places in the West.
This tiny island community is the perfect place to host astronomically focused events. This year the Coll Bunkhouse and Cosmos Planetarium have organised a stargazing event Coll and the Cosmos, Isle of Coll October 22nd – 23rd . You will learn about the stars and the solar system through an immersive multimedia experience from the comfort of a 6m indoor planetarium. There will be a range of state of the art astronomical equipment to try out. Experts will be on hand to give advice. You can reach Coll by ferry, there are five sailings a week from Oban during the autumn and winter.
7. The Isle of Skye
Why not sit out a wait for the Aurora Borealis in the solitude and wide open skies of this unique island? There have been numerous sightings of this natural light show from Skye over the years. So it is not a bad bet for a display this year. Head for the most northernly tip for your best chance of success. You can reach Skye by the road bridge from the mainland. But be aware that the bridge closes in very windy weather. One for the more adventurous traveller, the campsites on Skye are closed by October. However, you will easily find a spot to park up and camp. The weather can be, let’s say erratic, so its not a trip for the fainthearted. However, if you are lucky enought to have a bright, crisp and clear day, your reward will be the magical beauty of Skye without the crowds….and the midges.
Tips for watching the Northern Lights
Head out of town – you want to find a spot without light pollution, and kill your lights
Avoid nights with a full moon for the same reason
Check the conditions – you need cloudless skies, the right atmospheric conditions and increased solar activity. You can pick your most likely time by following the Aurora Watch (although it is not foolproof, the Northern Lights can be unpredictable) or this map of the North. which is updated every 30 mins. Or you can download an app
Take a camera – your camera is able to catch the display more vividly than you can see with the naked eye
Be patient – the best time to see them is between 9pm and midnight – so you may have to wait
Wrap up warm – it can be chilly in Scotland in the Autumn and Winter. Or cheat by waiting it out in the warmth of your own campervan!
Other Stargazing spots in Scotland
Galloway Forest Park was the first designated Dark Sky Park in the UK. It was classified as a Gold Tier park by the the International Dark-Sky Association in recognition of its incredible stargazing conditions. There are very few inhabitants of this 300 square mile area which is thick with forests. This means you are likely to experience a spectacular display of stars on every cloudless night. Whilst reports of the Northern Lights are rarer here, they are increasing. Whilst it might not be the best place to see the Northern Lights in Scotland, you are guaranteed some of the best stargazing conditions in the world.
Want some help planning your stargazing visit to Scotland?
If you are thinking about a trip to Scotland to see the Northern Lights, a campervan is a great choice as you can move around to find the best conditions. Big Sky Campers are happy to advise on route ideas and destinations. We also provide a full itinerary planning service. If you are interested in this service, or just want to hire one of our lovely campervans, please get in touch via our website. Or book one of our campervans for hire in Scotland directly on our site.
Campervans for hire in Scotland
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