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Where to stand
Leave the car at the lighthouse car park and stand by the wall at the cliff top, no further. Look north across the Pentland Firth towards Orkney. The lighthouse flashes, so walk a little along the path to keep its beam out of your frame.
View towards the pole
Open sea, the Pentland Firth and Orkney to the north
Sky darkness (Bortle scale): 2
Rules and safety
The cliffs are high and in many places have no barriers, so stay on the paths after dark. The headland is an RSPB seabird reserve and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code applies. The wind can be very strong.
About the spot
Dunnet Head is the most northerly point of mainland Britain, with a lighthouse on the cliff. To the north there is only sea and Orkney. At a geomagnetic latitude of about 61°, the aurora shows low on the horizon here even in a moderate storm.
Do not miss the next window
The best windows last a few hours: after a storm, after rain, on a clear night with an active Sun. Sign up and we will email you when the index at your spots goes above 60.