Best places to see the Northern Lights in the skies over Scotland

Although we are not in the traditional Northern Lights season, the aurora borealis has already made a few appearances over the past few months.

The most memorable was in May, where the breathtaking phenomenon took place. Although we are not so lucky very often, Scotland boasts some of the best locations in the UK for stargazing and seeing the celestial lights.

The Aurora appears more frequently on our beautiful islands, especially those in the north, and due to their distance from the bright lights of the big cities it can be a truly stunning sight. But there are also some key locations on the mainland that have a history of showing the Aurora in all its wonder.

When can I see the Northern Lights?

The best time to spot this natural phenomenon is between late September and late March, ideally in December and January. This is when the sky is darkest in the Northern Hemisphere.

To get the best view, it is advisable to stay up until the early hours. And although it is easier to see in winter, the Northern Lights can also appear out of season.

Specialist weather forecasting websites such as AuroraWatch UK can tell you when to expect the Northern Lights, so make sure you have your notifications turned on!

What is the Northern Lights?

The lights, which appear as waves of dancing green, blue, purple and pink, are caused by particles emitted from the sun. When these particles encounter the Earth’s magnetic shield, they are drawn toward the north and south poles and interact, releasing energy in the form of the stunning spectrum of dancing rays.

Better known as the Northern Lights, they take their name from Aurora (the Roman goddess of the dawn) and Boreas (the Greek name for the north wind). In Shetland and Orkney they are called the Mirrie Dancers, while in Gaelic folklore they are known as Na Fir-Chlis – the Agile Men.