Northern Lights: The best places in Scotland to see the Aurora Borealis

dailyrecord.co.uk:

In Scotland, they are known as the Mirrie Dancers and they light up the skies with beautiful ribbons of green, purple, red and pink.

One of the most breathtaking natural phenomena seen anywhere in the world, Scotland can, on occasion rival even Canada and Scandinavia for seeing them.Heading north to the Highlands, or jumping across to the islands will often be your best bet but they can often be seen as far south as Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders.Catching a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis – one of nature's most magical displays – is an unforgettable experience.

Normally, between late September and late March (ideally December and January) is the best time to look for the Mirrie Dancers - though be sure to stay up until the wee small hours to get the clearest view and you can consult specialist aurora forecast websites such as AuroraWatch UK.

The best time is between 10pm and midnight, depending on cloud cover, and heading away from the cities and towns to somewhere nice and dark is your best bet.Taking their name from Aurora (the Roman goddess of dawn) and Boreas (the Greek name for north wind), here are some of the best places in Scotland to spot the Northern Lights.Though it pays to be patient, as they may appear for long durations up to an hour and sometimes only for a few minutes, either way, they are worth the wait.As well as being home to some of the country's most beautiful beaches, the Outer Hebridean islands of Harris and Lewis offer unrivalled views of this stunning light show from most parts of the islands on a clear night.The most northerly parts of the country are the most obvious place to go to see the northern lights.Both the Orkney and Shetland isles have remote areas that will be perfect for