Can you see the Northern Lights in Scotland? When can you see the Northern Lights in Scotland? What are the Northern Lights? When is the best time to see the Northern Lights in 2024 or 2025? Where is the best place to see Northern Lights in Scotland? Want tips on how to improve your chances of viewing the aurora borealis in Scotland? Why do you need a torch with a red light like this one from Amazon?
When people talk about seeing the Northern Lights they tend to mean going on holiday to somewhere like Norway to see them. You can actually see them in the UK and Scotland is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights (also known as the aurora borealis).
This is because northern Scotland lies at the same latitude as Stavanger, Norway and Nunivak Island in Alaska.
Photo: Maria Macdonald, South Uist
Read our top tips on how to view the Northern Lights and then take a holiday to Scotland to see this breath-taking natural spectacle.
This winter the sun will reach what astronomers call the “maximum” of its 11-year solar cycle which is why the northern lights are so incredible at the moment such as on 8 October 2024 when there were vivid displays across the UK. Solar activity is dramatically increased at the peak of the 11-year cycle making 2024 and 2025.
The current 11-year cycle is only the 25th since records began in 1755. It began in 2019 and experts predict it will peak next year.
Make 2024 or 2025 the year you see the Northern Lights in Scotland because you might not be around for the next peak.
The best time of year to see the Northern Lights in Scotland is the autumn and winter months when the nights are longer and darker. They don’t appear on set dates each year and are only visible in dark skies.
During the summer months it’s virtually impossible to see the Northern Lights because the nights are very light in the north of Scotland (and the rest of the aurora-watching places). The Northern Lights can happen at any time of year but you need dark skies to see them.
Between late September and late March is the best time of year for aurora viewing because when the night sky is dark, it’s easier to see the colours. The nights are much longer and darker in autumn and winter compared to the summer.
A clear, dark winter night can give you breath-taking views of this display. There can be up to 18 hours of darkness in winter which increases your chance of seeing the aurora. Generally, we recommend the following months:
We don’t suggest you plan a Northern Lights holiday in Scotland in the months of:
You could still see the aurora if it’s dark enough at night during the spring or autumn. But if your main aim is to see them, you’re best to avoid these months. Visit in August and you’ll find it’s only truly dark for several hours giving you almost no chance of seeing the Northern Lights in August in Scotland.
There is no easy answer as it depends on factors such as the right solar conditions, clear skies and it needs to be in autumn or winter. So it is quite rare to see them and you do need luck on your side. In the north of Scotland and remote areas with dark skies such as the the Outer Hebrides, Isle of Skye, or Shetland, sightings can occur several times a month during September to March.
So where can you see the Northern Lights in Scotland? In theory, the aurora can be seen anywhere within the UK if geomagnetic conditions are very active.
Usually, the north of the UK gives you the best chance of seeing the “mirrie dancers”. This is why Scotland’s Highlands and Islands are such a great place to stay to see the Northern Lights. Spending your holiday as far north as you can, could increase your chances too.
You don’t need to go on a special “Northern Lights holiday” in Scotland. We’ve seen them just from the garden or window of holiday cottages we’ve been staying in.
This means there are potentially lots of chances to see them. We recommend booking your accommodation in a remote area of Scotland with little or no light pollution so you might be able to see them from where you’re staying. Remember that there’s no guarantee of seeing them so choose a destination that interests you in other ways too.
Some of the best places to see the Northern Lights in Scotland’s Highlands and Islands are:
The Outer Hebrides is one of the best places to see the Northern Lights in Scotland and I’ve been fortunate to see them several times whilst on holiday on North Uist. This island chain has little light pollution so take your pick from Lewis, Harris, South Uist, North Uist, Benbecula, Barra and Eriskay.
The Northern Lights are called Na Fir Chlis (the Nimble Men) in Scottish Gaelic folklore.
See places to stay on the Outer Hebrides
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There are 9 Dark Skye discovery sites on Skye so you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to finding somewhere without light pollution.
See places to stay on the Isle of Skye
See places to stay on the Isle of Mull
As the most northerly part of the mainland, Sutherland and Caithness are a good place to stay to increase your chance.
See places to stay in Caithness and Sutherland
Orkney is off the north coast of Scotland so another good place for Northern Light hunting. Try setting up watch on the beach at Dingieshowe, the coast at Birsay, or the top of Wideford Hill.
The area of Moray is one of the more southerly areas where you might have a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights in Scotland. Moray’s Astronomy Club, Sigma, sometimes runs public aurora watching sessions.
See places to stay in Wester Ross
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See places to stay in the Cairngorms and Aviemore
It’s possible to see the Northern Lights from Fort William even though it’s a busy town with street lights.
See places to stay in Fort William and Lochaber
The islands of Shetland are the most northerly part of the British Isles so they are a good place to see the Northern Lights. Avoid places with street lights, such as Lerwick, as this can reduce your chances and head for the open countryside.
In Shetland they call the Northern Lights the “mirrie dancers” which is a perfect name for these dancing ribbons of light.
See places to stay on Shetland
Check out our directory for some stunning holiday accommodation in the Scottish Highlands & Islands to see the Northern Lights.
See: 15 stunning photos of the Northern Lights in Scotland
For a Northern Lights forecast in the UK, AuroraWatch UK, part of Lancaster University, provides free alerts when the aurora borealis may be visible from the UK including Scotland’s Highlands and Islands. To track the Northern lights and monitor geomagnetic activity in real time, we use their free smartphone app.
If you want to know whether you’ll see the Northern Lights in Scotland or the UK tonight, check out the latest info below which is direct from the AuroraWatch website.
The Northern Lights can be unpredictable and even if they are forecast, you may not see them. But even if they’re not predicted, have a look because we’ve seen them on nights when the aurora alert sites have said it’s unlikely.
It needs to be a night with increased solar activity and we list some ways to find out when the Northern Lights may be seen below.
A clear night with no cloud cover – you may be able to still see them through broken cloud but if you can’t see the stars then you won’t see the northern lights.
Find a dark location away from light pollution from street lights, cars and buildings. The lack of large cities and towns in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland means you won’t have to go far to find your perfect spot. If it’s intense solar activity, they have been seen in cities such as Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
The bright light of a full moon can make the northern lights difficult to see.
Look north but check in all directions and look directly above your head too, especially if there are high levels of geomagnetic activity. I use the compass on my phone so I know which direction is north.
It takes a bit of dedication to see the Northern Lights. We’re not great at staying up late. If there’s been an aurora alert but we can’t stay up any later, we go to bed set our alarm every hour so we (it’s normally down to me!) can check out the window to see if anything is happening. You can set up aurora alerts on your phone too which will hopefully wake you up if there is increased activity. If you get up in the night for the loo, don’t miss the opportunity to look outside. Choosing accommodation with large windows can help you do this without having to actually go outside in your pyjamas.
Scotland’s winters can be cold. A clear night sky will be ideal for watching the Northern Lights but the temperature will drop even more. Dress in your warmest outdoor clothing including gloves and a hat. Wrap up warm and take a flask of tea or a hip flask of your favourite single malt (as long as you don’t have to drive!).
Preserve your night vision by using a torch with a red light instead of white light. White light negatively affects your night vision. I’ve got a head torch with a red light which is like this one from Amazon.
The best times to view are generally between 9pm and 12am so be prepared to wait. There will be some incredible night skies and shooting stars to look at while you wait.
It’s worth checking at any time though if it’s dark as they could appear any time after sunset.
The Northern Lights don’t usually last long so you need to keep looking as it could be for only a few minutes. A good show may last just 15-30 minutes. Displays could continue for several hours if you’re very lucky.
This sounds obvious but if you’ve only seen them in stunning photos, you may not know that they don’t always look like that.
The Northern Lights are created by the Earth’s spectra of gases and the height in the atmosphere where the collision of particles from the sun and the Earth’s gases takes place.
Our naked eye can most easily see the green-yellow part of the spectrum where the sun emits most of it’s light. You’re most likely to see green but they can also appear white/grey and even purple and red. If you’ve never seen them before and are looking on a cloudy night, you might not be sure what you’re seeing.
We have seen them as wispy grey or white clouds, which can be easy to miss. It was only when they started moving in a strange way, we realised that they were actually the Northern Lights.
You can see the northern lights with the naked eye but our eyes don’t see such bright, vivid colours as captured by a camera. This means photos of the aurora are normally more impressive than what you will see live. They can also be happening but not visible to the naked eye so use your phone camera to take a pic and see if they are actually happening.
Although everyone would love to capture amazing images of the Northern Lights we suggest that you don’t be too fixated on taking photos, just enjoy watching the magical, shifting ribbons of colour, especially if it’s your first time.
Don’t give up. If you don’t see them the first time, keep on trying. When you do see them it will be worth it!
The Scottish Highlands and Islands have some of the darkest skies in Scotland. Choose somewhere away from the lights of towns and cities to increase your chances of seeing the northern lights in Scotland. These holiday cottages might be in a good location.
Holiday Scottish Highlands & Islands
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