These staycations all give you a chance to marvel at the night skies - weather willing.These staycations all give you a chance to marvel at the night skies - weather willing.
These staycations all give you a chance to marvel at the night skies - weather willing.

See the Aurora Borealis in Scotland: These are 10 dark sky staycations in Scotland perfect for seeing the Northern Lights and the night skies

By David Hepburn

Writer-at-large

Published 7th Oct 2021, 15:29 BST
Updated 27th Feb 2023, 09:09 BST

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

There’s nothing quite like gazing at the enormity of the stars above to put things into perspective, and these getaways will let you see galaxies, constellations, planets from the comfort of your holiday accomodation.

Of course, being Scotland, you can never guarantee the weather – but winter and spring is a great time to look to the skies, with the best chance of experiencing clear conditions during the longer, colder nights.

And, if you’re really lucky, you might even experience the dancing lights of the aurora borealis, without costly flights to Iceland or Scandinavia.

You don’t need any fancy or expensive equipment – a pair of cheap binoculars is plenty for a beginner, while a mobile phone app such as Star Walk can help you tell your Canis Majors from your Ursa Minors.

Keep an eye on the news for any celestial events too – including meteor showers, lunar eclipses, comets and the phases of the moon – so you can time your trips accordingly.

If it’s the Northern Lights you’re most excited about seeing, regularly check of the Aurora Watch website, which measures the all-important amount of solar activity each day, which gives an indication of how likley they are to appear.

The most important thing though is to find a remote place away from light pollution so the stars can really shine.

Here are 10 holiday properties that fit the bill, all of which can be booked on www.booking.com.

Read more:

These are 10 of the best places to see the Northern Lights in Scotland this autumn and winter

You don’t need any fancy or expensive equipment – a pair of cheap binoculars is plenty for a beginner, while a mobile phone app such as Star Walk can help you tell your Canis Majors from your Ursa Minors.

These staycations all give you a chance to marvel at the night skies - weather willing.

. Stars

These staycations all give you a chance to marvel at the night skies - weather willing. Photo: Canva/Getty Images

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For a family of stargazers, Craigenrae is a four-bedroom holiday home on the edge of Galloway Foresat Park - which in 2009 was designated by the International Dark-Sky Association as only the fourth Dark Sky Park in the UK. The house is secluded, away from artificial light, and has a garden from which you can look out for shooting stars and satellites.

5. Craigenrae

For a family of stargazers, Craigenrae is a four-bedroom holiday home on the edge of Galloway Foresat Park - which in 2009 was designated by the International Dark-Sky Association as only the fourth Dark Sky Park in the UK. The house is secluded, away from artificial light, and has a garden from which you can look out for shooting stars and satellites. Photo: www.google.com

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The Outer Hebrides is another Scottish dark sky paradise. The Loch Erisort Inn, on the island of Lewis, occupies a great spot with a spectacular loch view, more than enough sky to keep you occupied at night and is close to the atmospheric Callanish Stones where the Northern Light have been known to make an occasional appearance.

6. Loch Erisort Inn

The Outer Hebrides is another Scottish dark sky paradise. The Loch Erisort Inn, on the island of Lewis, occupies a great spot with a spectacular loch view, more than enough sky to keep you occupied at night and is close to the atmospheric Callanish Stones where the Northern Light have been known to make an occasional appearance. Photo: www.booking.com

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Orkney is another Northern Lights hotspot and offers plenty of unspoilt, pollution-free dark skies in which to hunt them. Located to the far north of the Mainland, next to the Loch of Swannay and a short drive from Skara Brae, the charming Rymmon Retreat has two bedrooms and a balcony perfect for amateur astronomers.

7. Rymmon Retreat

Orkney is another Northern Lights hotspot and offers plenty of unspoilt, pollution-free dark skies in which to hunt them. Located to the far north of the Mainland, next to the Loch of Swannay and a short drive from Skara Brae, the charming Rymmon Retreat has two bedrooms and a balcony perfect for amateur astronomers. Photo: www.booking.com

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Holiday getaways don't come much more remote than the Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage, right next to the picturesque Noss Head Lighthouse near Wick in the far north of Scotland. It sleeps up to six people and offers perfect stargazing conditions from its doorstep.

8. The Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage

Holiday getaways don't come much more remote than the Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage, right next to the picturesque Noss Head Lighthouse near Wick in the far north of Scotland. It sleeps up to six people and offers perfect stargazing conditions from its doorstep. Photo: www.booking.com

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