Northern Lights

Bessy765

Bessy765

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Hi all, subject to the state of play we are thinking of going up to Scotland around the end of December to see if we can see them. We will be staying on a site that is open all year (subject to being ok) and not wild camping. The idea is we will return from France via the tunnel drive straight up the before returning to Devon. But only if allowed to do so and obeying any conditions imposed. If not safe to do so will leave it to another time. Just wondered if anyone has done it?
 
You will need a lot of luck with your timing and location
North East coast probably best
More likely to get the clear sky
There is an app as ever that gives a forecast of the chance of them being visible
Your are not going to have a lot of daylight to do much else
 
It one of those bucket list items, we thought about going to Norway but thought again, so Scotland it may well be. It’s just we are in France until end of December will be coming home via the tunnel so thought straight up from Dover rather than returning to Devon first.
 
If not Scotland try from Kielder in Northumberland.

IIRC the observatory up there is one of the UK‘s least light polluted areas. There’s loads of places to camp around there too and you can take a boat trip on the reservoir.

79B47704-CEF3-4EF1-B083-E3BF4F46EC7C.jpeg


91752307-CECE-4FCF-91BE-8EE9F74653E5.jpeg



<Broken link removed>

gostargazing.co.uk

Kielder Observatory - best time to visit for dark skies - Go Stargazing

Find out the best time to visit Kielder Observatory using our dark sky calendar and get the most out of your trip to this fantastic dark sky location.
gostargazing.co.uk gostargazing.co.uk


er indoors went to Iceland in January to see them, she loved the place but never seen a thing and nearly froze herself to death....and not a frozen pizza or sausage role in sight. 😂

www.heyiceland.is

The Best Time to See the Northern Lights in Iceland

Learn the best time of year to see the Northern Lights in Iceland. The Northern Lights are among the world's most magical sights and here is everything you need to know to maximise your chances of seeing them.
www.heyiceland.is www.heyiceland.is

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Bessy765 said:
It one of those bucket list items, we thought about going to Norway but thought again, so Scotland it may well be. It’s just we are in France until end of December will be coming home via the tunnel so thought straight up from Dover rather than returning to Devon first.
Click to expand...

We went to Finland January 19 just to see the lights (ok we may of gone on snowmobiles and dog sledding too) as one of our bucket lists - amazing- will never forget it!
 
Sadly the reality is that even with very strong solar activity the ‘real’ lights are very rarely seen by eye in the UK

some of the photos you see are very long exposures and would not have been visible 🤔🙁

we drove to Norway three years ago in September and had awesome sightings, even the locals couldn’t recall such strong colours that early in the year and we saw them for 7 nights on the run, but we were above the artic circle 👍
 
Depends what you mean by rarely. Seen here at least once a year, not by me though. We are the wrong side of the hill!
 
We had a whistle stop tour up from Devon (5 weeks) September last year.
Finland and Norway being the best above the artic circle. Free camping is allowed in most places.
And we're very lucky to have good sightings of them.
The plan was an extended trip this year and get more fishing in, I don't think it will be happening though.

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I think you’ll have to think of it as a great trip, lots to see, fantastic scenery and if you see the Lights that’s a bonus.
My OH wanted to take me to Norway, he’d seen the Northern Lights lots of times when on manoeuvres in the army. After he died I went up in a plane from Bristol, everything was blacked out, external lights switched off for a short period and we stayed up longer than planned—- I think I saw one tiny green glimmer in the distance 😕. I’d love to try again one day.
 
Garfields said:
You will need a lot of luck with your timing and location
North East coast probably best
More likely to get the clear sky
There is an app as ever that gives a forecast of the chance of them being visible
Your are not going to have a lot of daylight to do much else
Click to expand...
You also need to time it when moon is nowhere near full.
We went on a 10 night trip to Norway and only saw them on one night above to artic circle (February). As DavidG58 says, you don't get the spectacular green colour with naked eye.
 
We have seen them in Lytham St Annes! Albeit 30 years ago but stunning best bet is to go to Shetland but when you add in cost of ferry etc better to try Norway. Its all down to solar activity that affects the magnetic flux there are predictive websites that will grade how much chance you have of seeing them but a bit like the weather forecast, not an exact science! ( I am a qualified meteorologist!)
 
XxAnthxX said:
If not Scotland try from Kielder in Northumberland.

QUOTE]

The thought of Kielder on a December night gives me the shivers even now
Shouldn't be any midges then:rolleyes:

Nice pictures though
Click to expand...

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Saw them in Canada a few years ago. Out on the prairie miles from anywhere, no lights for 40 miles and then a glorious light show. 👍
 
Garfields said:
The thought of Kielder on a December night gives me the shivers even now
Shouldn't be any midges then.
Click to expand...

Aye it’ll be fresh in December, unlike Scotland’s blistering heat that time of year.....not as cold as Iceland in January tho😱😱😱

Yup no midges, every cloud n all that.....😂
 
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These guys will send a text when forecast good for the area you are interested in. The service does not seem that expensive.

Broken Link Removed
 
Dan and Jan said:
Saw them in Canada a few years ago. Out on the prairie miles from anywhere, no lights for 40 miles and then a glorious light show. 👍
Click to expand...
Memories there! I saw them on a freebie !!!!!! Whilst stationed in Suffield Alberta Whilst in the army !!! Dancing across the sky ! Yes certainly a sight
 
The general said:
Memories there! I saw them on a freebie !!!!!! Whilst stationed in Suffield Alberta Whilst in the army !!! Dancing across the sky ! Yes certainly a sight
Click to expand...
Snap, on top of the 434. Few bottles of Labatts to enjoy the view.
 
I spent five years of my adult life living on the north coast of Scotland and saw the lights a total of: two times!

Ian
 
March Hare said:
Here’s the link to the Lancaster University Aurora Alerts site - you can sign up to free alerts via text etc.

If you receive a red alert text it’s definitely a good sign!

AuroraWatch UK · AuroraWatch UK

See the aurora borealis from the UK
aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk
Click to expand...
That’s the one! They’ve been seen even in Devon, occasionally, but not by me! One day...
 
In 2016 I went to Iceland with my son and DIL on a 4 day trip to see them. Shivered up a mountain for 3 hours each of the 3 nights in snow and neither I nor the other 4 coachloads saw anything.
At breakfast the last morning before catching the 7 a.m. coach to the airport a waiter told us that they had been seen in Chelmsford, Essex, just a 100 miles from my home. :rolleyes:
 
Thanks for the tip have signed up to Aurora.
 
We took 3days to get to Crofter's Snug near John O'Groats from Norfolk [near Berwick; 300miles, Speyside: 200miles; JOG 170miles via Altnaharra (pretty route!)], arriving 5th Feb 2020.

Crofter's Snug is CL/CS (can't remember) costing £17pn with EHU: hardstanding with fantastic views over Pentland Firth to Orkney. No artificial light to spoil the view.
NB 200 metre steepish CLIMB to CDP (4-wheel trolley provided).

Then Storm Ciara arrived on Sat 8th Feb and the nearest tree was 2miles away; the site has earth banks between pitches to reduce winds getting under the van but we felt we needed more that that.
So we left without seeing any aurora.

IF you are a FLT, try Duncansby Head but hope it will not be windy.

Good luck - Gordon
P1110445.JPG
 
FLT?

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