Why 2024 will be the best year in a decade to see the Northern Lights – and five places to find them in the UK
THIS year could bring you the best chance of seeing the northern lights for almost a decade.
The aurora borealis is high up on most people’s bucket lists, with the natural phenomenon a difficult thing to come across.
However, 2024 could provide people with the perfect conditions needed to see the lights, all they have to do is head to the right place to find it.
Apparently, this year, the sun is “more active” than normal, which is good news for those wanting to spot the lights.
Euronews explained exactly what that means and why it could produce better and more frequent aurora displays.
They said: “Every 11 years, the sun’s magnetic field completely flips. As we’re approaching that peak in 2024 or 2025, there’s been a dramatic increase in ‘sunspots’ – a measure of how active the sun is.
“So the northern lights are currently looking stronger than they have in at least a decade making it the perfect time to book that bucket list trip north to see them in all their splendour.”
They also explained that the best time to go hunting for the lights will be “around the March and October equinoxes”.
While the best place to see the northern lights is in countries further north like Norway and Iceland, spotting them in the UK is definitely not unheard of.
With stronger displays expected this year, there could be plenty of options for a northern lights staycation – here are five places where you could expect to spot them in 2024.
Northumberland
One of the best ways to increase your chances of seeing the northern lights is to head to head somewhere with little light pollution, with plenty of people choosing the coast as the perfect spot.
Places like Bamburgh and Druridge Bay out in Northumberland have very little in the way of light pollution, making it easier for people to spot the lights when they show up.
However, further inland in the county, people might also want to head to Kielder forest, an international dark sky park, known as a great place for stargazing and northern lights spotting.
Cumbria
Northumberland’s neighbour to the west has some other excellent spots in which the northern lights can be found.
Included in that is the Lake District, with plenty of dramatic landscapes from which to view the aurora.
The National Trust recommend a visit to Derwentwater, with the northern lights displays there described as the lake’s “crowning glory”.
Pembrokeshire
It may be a rare occasion, but when the northern lights are strong enough, they sometimes stretch as far south as Wales.
Pembrokshire, the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia National Park all have some excellent dark sky spots to try and find them.
Isle of Skye
The most frequent occurrences of the lights in the UK are undoubtedly in Scotland, particularly right at the north of the country.
The Isle of Skye is a great place to spot them, with its rugged coastline and beaches the perfect place to escape light pollution.
There are other dark sky discovery spots on the islet, with the isle’s famous fairy pools also a good place to find them when the conditions are right.
Cairngorms
The higher grounds in the Cairngorms are said to be some of the best places to see the aurora in the UK.
The national park has the same latitude as more popular dark sky spots in both Norway and Alaska, so it’s definitely far enough north to give you a good chance.
According to Visit Cairngorms, the park was officially recognised in November 2018 as one of the best places in the world to see the spectacle.
Tomintoul and Glenlivet are among the best places to see them, with both awarded gold tier Dark Sky Park status by the International Dark-Sky Association.
Meanwhile, this UK coastal village has alarms for visitors that lets them know when the northern lights is visible.
And here are five other places to see the lights in the UK.