A visit to see the Northern lights means a chance to marvel at a natural wonder that has fascinated mankind for thousands of years. The Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis are nature’s very own dramatic performance.
Known as the ‘Merry Dancers’ the lively streaks that twist across the night sky can last minutes or even seconds. It’s often a game of luck to be able to catch a glimpse of it, but once you have its an experience that you will never forget.
The Northern Lights are caused by solar wind from the sun colliding with magnetic particles in the earth’s atmosphere. Usually you can expect to see a blanket of green or red in the sky looking northwards.
The best place to see the Northern Lights in the UK is Scotland. The Northern points of Scotland in the Highlands around Caithness Coast and the Orkney Isles are the prime spots to see the fascinating light display.
The Shetlands and the Outer Hebrides are also ideal locations for trying to catch a glimpse of the Northern lights as they have very low light pollution due to the low population.
For more information on what there is to explore when you visit The Northern Lights, check out our Things to Do in The Highlands page.
Photo by Grégory Tonon on Unsplash
