Northern Lights
The Flow Country — Forsinard
The Flow Country — named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2024 — is Europe's largest blanket bog: 4,000 km² of peatland, lochans, and treeless moorland in Caithness and Sutherland. Forsinard Station (RSPB Flows reserve visitor centre) is the only building for kilometres in any direction and sits at 58.3°N with Bortle 1 conditions. The reflection of the aurora in the thousands of bog pools creates a scene unlike anything else on earth. The Far North Line ScotRail train from Inverness to Thurso/Wick stops at Forsinard on request.
Aurora Alert Now: No significant activity
19:27No significant geomagnetic activity. Aurora unlikely tonight.
Quick facts
- Designation
- Exceptional informal dark sky
- Bortle scale
- 1/ 9
- Aurora probability
- Highest aurora probability
- Region
- Caithness & Sutherland
- Grid ref
- NC 891 425
Getting there
Forsinard Station (KW13 6YT) on the A897 and Far North Line. RSPB Flows visitor centre open April–October; the moorland is freely accessible under SOAC year-round. The Stackhouse and Dubh Lochan pools (400m from the station) give the characteristic reflected-aurora Flow Country scene. Bring waterproof footwear — the boardwalk trails are the only dry route; off-boardwalk the peat bog is deep.
Postcode: KW13 6YT
Photography notes
The boardwalk from the station across the Flow leads to open lochans facing north — perfect for reflection compositions. Shoot in all directions; the bog is flat with no horizon obstruction. The very dark sky (Bortle 1) combined with the lochans reflecting the entire aurora display overhead creates layered images that are uniquely Flow Country. Water-resistant camera bag essential — moist air condenses on glass rapidly in bog conditions.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:09
- Sunset
- 22:26
- Civil dawn
- 02:50
- Civil dusk
- 23:46
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 June 2026
Common questions
- Can you see the Northern Lights from The Flow Country — Forsinard?
- Yes — it is one of the best places in Britain to see the aurora. The Flow Country — Forsinard sits at 58.4°N. This far north, even a moderately active night (around Kp 4) can bring a display to the northern horizon, and a strong geomagnetic storm fills the sky overhead. You still need a clear night, an open view to the north, and as little light pollution as possible — the Bortle 1 sky here helps on that last point. The darkest, longest nights for aurora hunting run through September, 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.
- Can you get to Forsinard by train?
- Yes — Forsinard is a request stop on the ScotRail Far North Line from Inverness to Thurso/Wick. Tell the conductor you want Forsinard and alight there. The RSPB Flows visitor centre is 100m from the platform. No road vehicle is needed.
- Why is the Flow Country a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
- Designated in 2024, the Flow Country was recognised as the world's most extensive area of blanket bog peatland and an irreplaceable carbon store. The UK lobbied for the designation for over a decade. The 4,000km² site stores more carbon than all of Britain's forests combined.
Seen the lights here?
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