CAIRNGORMS DARK SKY PARK
To Infinity and Beyond!
Grantown is an ideal base for stargazing and viewing the Northern Lights.
Due to the low levels of artificial light, from October to March our clear starlit dark skies of the Cairngorms National Park have few rivals for these natural phenomena.
Stunning night skies with easy access, allowing everyone a chance for a view not to be missed.
The Cairngorms Dark Sky Park, created in 2018 is only the second to be established in Scotland and the world’s most northerly. It has several easily accessible viewing sites dotted around Tomintoul and Glenlivet. Tomintoul, recognised as the highest village in the Highlands, is only a 30 minute drive from Grantown, so long as the ‘Snow Road‘ is not closed for access in the depths of winter. The Cairngorms offer great vantage points for guests to view the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) and all just a short walk from our transport.
Equipment Required:
More Locations…
Another popular location for stargazers is along the shore of the Moray Firth. There’s a large choice; Nairn, Forres, Fochabers, Burghead and Lossiemouth all within easy reach of your accommodation in the Cairngorms National Park. These locations give the added atmosphere of looking out over the black void of the Moray Firth blending in the horizon with the inky black night sky, hopefully illuminated with green streaks of the Northern Lights.
You will have time to dabble with astrophotography, so bring your own equipment to view and photography some amazing shots. Reasonable pictures nowadays can even be taken with mobile phones.
Suitable For All
These tours are suitable for families, first timers and those wishing to expand their knowledge of astronomy further.
Subject to the weather conditions and cloud cover, in the evening, I’ll arrange to collect you from your accommodation and either visit a Dark Sky location in the Cairngorms National Park or Moray Firth. Allowing approximately 30-45 minutes for travel, on location I’ll help you identify the constellations, planets and other visible objects for that particular time of the year.
Don’t forget to wrap up well in these cold winter nights and remember they are a natural phenomenon and therefore viewing cannot be guaranteed, but I do hope you experience looking into the heavens for a dramatic stellar show.
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