Anew guide to stargazing in the Highlands will give visitors a greater chance of seeing the Northern Lights and other astronomical highlights.
The skies of the north Highlands are some of the darkest in western Europe, making them ideal for spectacular views of the night skies.
The new guide, The North Highland Dark Sky Experience, suggests 40 locations across Caithness, Sutherland and Ross-shire to view the skies and Aurora Borealis, also called the Northern Lights, and Na Fir Chlis (The Merry Dancers) in Gaelic.
The area’s overall lack of light pollution, combined with vast swaths of open space and dark winter nights, enhance the chances of seeing spectacular displays because the sun is at a peak in its cycle, therefore ejecting aurora-generating material into space more frequently.
Suggested sites to visit include:
Castlehill Heritage Centre, Castletown, Caithness
Leitir Easaidh Car Park beside Loch Assynt, Sutherland,
Loch Broom, Wester Ross
Tarbat Ness, Easter Ross
Gordon Mackie, of Caithness Astronomy Group, said: “For many people, seeing a dark sky literally filled with stars or a bright display of the Northern Lights dancing across the sky are memorable experiences that stay with them forever.
“The northern Highlands of Scotland is an area where these stunning night-time views can be enjoyed, complementing the spectacular day-time vistas it is famous for already. “
Eilidh Todd, tourism project manager at North Highland Initiative, said: “We’re thrilled to invite people to the area to share our spectacular night skies.
“I hope people make use of the local expertise we’ve collated and get out and explore the beautiful north Highlands; our dark skies are a cherry on top of a fantastic visitor experience.”
Supported by the Highland Council Tourism Development Grant, the guide also offers top stargazing tips for visitors and locals alike.
The guide can be downloaded from www.northhighlands scotland.com, which also gives information on events, activities and special offers running across the north Highlands as part of the Wild North Campaign.