Northern Lights
Glencoe — Rannoch Moor Edge
The stretch of the A82 from Kingshouse Hotel east across Rannoch Moor gives one of Scotland's most dramatic and accessible dark-sky aurora views. The road traverses open moorland at 320m with no light pollution for 20km in any direction, the Three Sisters and Bidean nam Bian silhouetted to the south and the open moor to the north. Lay-bys at regular intervals give safe pull-offs for viewing and photography. The Kingshouse Hotel (recently refurbished) provides world-class facilities for a winter aurora-hunting base.
Aurora Alert Now: No significant activity
19:27No significant geomagnetic activity. Aurora unlikely tonight.
Quick facts
- Designation
- Exceptional informal dark sky
- Bortle scale
- 3/ 9
- Aurora probability
- High aurora probability
- Region
- Glencoe & Lochaber
- Grid ref
- NN 259 547
Getting there
A82 between Glencoe village and Kingshouse Hotel. Multiple large lay-bys on both sides of the road. Kingshouse Hotel (PH49 4HX) provides accommodation and bar food — book well ahead for winter weekends. The Ba Bridge lay-by at NN 256 476 has a clear northern horizon and is a well-known aurora spot.
Postcode: PH49 4HX
Photography notes
Ba Bridge carries the old military road over a small River Ba crossing with Glencoe peaks behind. Set up facing north with the road bridge and mountains in the lower frame for a classic Glencoe aurora composition. The Black Mount of Rannoch silhouette to the north gives an interesting horizon. Light from occasional passing cars will intrude — plan around traffic gaps or wait for very late night (after midnight the A82 is quiet).
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:28
- Sunset
- 22:15
- Civil dawn
- 03:22
- Civil dusk
- 23:21
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 June 2026
Common questions
- Can you see the Northern Lights from Glencoe — Rannoch Moor Edge?
- Yes, on any reasonably active night. Glencoe — Rannoch Moor Edge sits at 56.7°N. A moderately strong display (around Kp 4–5) is usually enough to show over the northern horizon here. You still need a clear night, an open view to the north, and as little light pollution as possible — the Bortle 3 sky here helps on that last point. The darkest, longest nights for aurora hunting run through October, November, December, January, February, March. Check AuroraWatch UK and a clear-sky forecast before heading out, and watch the live aurora alert at the top of this page.
- Is the A82 stretch safe to stop on at night?
- Yes — there are multiple large lay-bys specifically designed for Glencoe viewpoints. Never stop on the road itself. The Ba Bridge lay-by and the Black Rock Cottage lay-by are both well-known and used regularly by aurora photographers. In winter, ensure your car has adequate fuel and warm clothing — the moor is cold.
Seen the lights here?
Share your experience of Glencoe — Rannoch Moor Edge to help other aurora hunters.