Our Guide to Aurora Hunting in a campervan in Scotland
Aurora hunting, or chasing the Northern Lights, can be a magical experience. And a campervan road trip is without doubt the best way to go Aurora Hunting. Not only does a campervan allow you to be flexible and adaptable to changing weather conditions before your trip starts and change your route, it also allows you to chase the clear skies as the weather changes whilst keeping cosy and comfortable as you wait for your colourful display to appear at your chosen location.
1. Pick a couple of good locations
Pick a good location. The northern lights can occasionally be seen as far south as the Midlands and Southern England, during periods of high geomagnetic activity such as during a solar storm; however you increase your chances of seeing them the further north you travel with the North of Scotland providing the best chances of seeing them.
The top 3 things you need to consider for the perfect location are:
- Darkness – darkness plays a crucial role in viewing the Northern Lights (aurora borealis) because it significantly impacts your ability to see the faint, ethereal glow of the aurora against the night sky.
- Low light pollution – light from streetlights and building can obscure the Aurora. Check light pollution maps to help identify areas with low light pollution
- Remote locations – away from urban and suburban lighting offer the best places to see the Northern Lights
2. Watch the weather
Tune into the national weather reports in Aurora season on a regular basis and plan for your road trip. Aurora Hunting has become a national past time in recent years with chances of seeing the northern lights now reported on the national weather reports in advance of the display. Ensure you tune in regularly and book your campervan for a luxury cosy Aurora Hunt!
- Avoid moonlight which can create additional light pollution making it harder to see the Aurora. Check moon phases and try and plan your aurora hunt during a new moon or when the moon is below he horizon
- A clear sky is necessary to see the Aurora. Clouds and atmospheric conditions can obstruct visibility
3. Download apps to get updates on your phone
- Download apps for real time data so you can move with the weather as it changes.
- Take a look at the apps in advance of your trip to ensure you understand the maps and what they mean.
Our top 3 apps are:
- My Aurora Forecast & Alerts – featuring real-time aurora forecasts, notification , cloud cover and geomagnetic activity information. Simple and user-friendly.
- Aurora Forecast – featuring real-time aurora forecasts, solar wind statistics, geomagnetic activity and alerts for aurora visibility
- Space Weather Live – featuring sunspot information as well as real-time data on solar activity, solar wind conditions and geomagneitc storm forecasts
4. Find a good viewpoint
- Find an open vantage point to see as much sky as possible.
- Make sure you are not in a valley where you might miss some of the display being blocked by hills.
- Park up beside a loch or the sea to get amazing aurora reflections across the water
Our Four Seasons Campers Aurora Hunt in 2023 led us to the North West coast of Scotland with a view stretching across to Skye and the Outer Hebrides.
We had originally planned to see them in the Cairngorm National Park when we set out on our road trip. However the weather conditions changed, so we had an exhilarating journey across Scotland as we raced to catch the light.
We found the most incredible Aurora seen in our pictures here in the stunning Wester Ross area of Scotland. The contrast of colourful sky against the backdrop of the dark silhouetted hills in the distant islands of Skye and the Outer Hebrides was magnificent!
5. Make sure you have a good view from your campervan
- Keep a blind in your campervan open as you wait for the display to begin. The length of time of an Aurora display can vary widely depending on the strength of the geomagnetic activity, the solar wind speed, and the local conditions such as weather and light pollution. A short display might last a few minutes to half an hour whilst intense displays can last for several hours or more. Extended Auroral Activity can last for multiple nights varying in intensity each night.
- Park up your campervan at an angle that will give you the best view of the skyline
- Turn off lights within the campervan once you see the Aurora appearing
6. Choose the right time of year to go Aurora Hunting
- Late autumn between September and November when the longer and darker nights have higher latitudes. This period also coincides with the autumnal equinox which is often associated with increased geomagnetic activity due to the Earth;s orientation and the magnetic field relative to the solar wind
- Winter between December and February which offers the longest and darkest nights and clear, cold weather which reduces cloud cover and increases visibility
- Early Spring between March and April especially around the vernal equinox which is another peak time for geomagnetic activity.
The best time of night to look out for the Northern lights is usually between 9 and 3 am when the sun is at its dimmest.
7.Choose the best campervan or motorhome to view the aurora from
- Make sure when you are choosing your campervan or motorhome to go Aurora hunting that you choose one with lots of windows all around. Our VW California Ocean campervans have more window space than the convertible campervans where conversion companies tend to prioritize cabinets over views.
- The VW California which is factory built, is the perfect model to go Aurora hunting in as it not only has more window coverage (due to its storage capacity being built into doors and the roof) but also has the option to fully open the front part of the pop up roof so that you can lie on the top bed with a clear open view of the night sky.
8. Download a stargazing app
A great way to enhance your experience of the night sky so that you can enjoy the night sky regardless of whether the Aurora appears or not.
- Stargazing apps help you identify stars, planets, constellations and other celestial objects
- They also provide real-time simulation of the night sky based on your location and time to help you understand and spot objects easier
- Many apps offer detailed information on the stars history, mythology and scientific data
- Some apps will provide notifications about upcoming celestial events like meteor showers, eclipses and planetary alignments
- Star Tracker is a great app and lets you hold up and point the device to the sky and see the star constellations
9. Check local Aurora Guides and Communities
Local knowledge can be invaluable.
- Residents and local guides often know the best spots and times for aurora viewing
- Join local astronomy groups, online forums, or social media communities where enthusiasts share their experiences and tips
- Aurora hunting often involves traveling to remote or rugged areas so it is important to respect both the local community and the natural environment that they live in
Our Top Tips for taking the perfect photo of the Aurora Borealis
- You will need a longer exposure so always use a tripod or if not possible set the camera down a solid surface
- Set your camera to 1600 ISO setting – or less. The lower the ISO the better the quality of the image.
- Smart Phones…. Good enough to capture the Aurora and many smartphones now use AI to enhance a photo which may look great on your screen but any smart phone image is compromised if printed on photographic paper.
- Bear in mind the size of the lens, smaller than your pinkie fingernail. When enlarged and printed it will most definitely pixelate to some degree.
- Use the self-timer to start the exposure as any movement or vibration from hand can affect the image quality.
- Exposure time should be no more than 30 seconds, otherwise the movement of the earth will show in stars etc… eg stars will start to streak.
- Use a wide-angle lens with a wide aperture or put the night switch on on your camera phone
- Use remote shutter release or intervalometer to help avoid camera shake and automate exposure shots
- Memory cards are useful if you plan to take a lot of photos or videos
- Wrap up warm…you will want to stay out side for as long as possible. We recommend taking:
- Fingerless gloves so that you can still operate your camera
- Warm hat to keep your head warm
- Scarf to protect from the wind if in an exposed location
- Thermal socks to keep your feet warm
- Sturdy warm boots to give you a good grip if looking at the sky as you take photos
- Take a head lamp with a red light option to help preserve night vision. A headlamp is a must to free up your hands but enables you to move around safely
- Take a lanket so ou can cover your legs whilst you sit and wait
- Take a warm drink – a campervan allow sou to keep the kettle boiling and enjoy some warm snacks throughout the night
Thanks to our photographer Peter Sandground for these great tips!
Top 10 Places in Scotland to see the Northern Lights on your Aurora Hunt
- The Shetland Islands – offer the northernmost point of Scotland and are the closest to the Artic Circle. Best viewing poinst are Sumburgh Head, Eshaness and Harmaness
- The Orkney Islands – have clear skies iwth limited light pollutionmaking them an excellent place for Aurora hunting!
- The Moray Coast – is a fantastic are for viewing the Northern Lights due to its releatively clear skies and low levels of light pollution. Great spots include Findhorn and Cullen.
- The Other Hebrides – islands of Lewis and Harris offer a plethora of west coast beaches to view the Northern Lights from.
- Skye is a wonderful loation to go aurora hunting wth its dramatic landscape. Best viewing points are The Quiraing, Nesit Oint and the Trotternish Peninsula.
- Sutherland is known for its rugged landscape and low levels of light pollution. Best places to view are Durness and Assynt.
- Caithness is situated ont he northernmost tip of mainland Scotlnd and offers dark skies ideal for Aurora hunting. Great spots to view the Aurora are at Dunnet Head, Duncansby Head and the beaches around Thurso.
- Galloway Forest Park – a designated Dark Sky Park is one of hte darkest places in the UK making it an excellent place to see the lights of the Northern lights. Best places to view are Loch Trool, Clateringshaws Loch and the Galloway HIlls.
- The Cairngorm National Park has vast open landscapes and high altitudes which enhance the aurora visitbility on clear nights. Great viewing spots are at Tomintoul, Loch Morlick and Glenmore Forest.
- Torridon- is a remote area on the West Coast of Scotland and has incredible dark skies. The best spots to chase the Aurora lie in the Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve adn along the shores of Loch Torridon.
Happy Aurora Hunting!
Aurora hunting combines preparation, patience, and the right conditions. By checking forecasts, choosing dark locations, and being prepared for cold weather, you can maximize your chances of witnessing the Northern Lights. Utilizing these tips will help you make the most of your aurora-hunting adventure and increase your likelihood of experiencing this breathtaking natural phenomenon.