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Where to stand
Drive out of the village on minor roads across the moor and stop at a car park or lay-by with a view north. The dark sky park publishes a map of viewing spots, so check it before you go. Knolls sometimes hide the horizon itself, so pick a higher spot.
View towards the pole
Gentle hills and moorland, with knolls hiding the low northern horizon in places
Sky darkness (Bortle scale): 2
Rules and safety
The Scottish Outdoor Access Code applies: do not leave the car in field gateways or passing places. Roads over the passes, such as the Lecht, are often closed by snow in winter. Use a red light so you do not dazzle other observers.
About the spot
Tomintoul is one of the highest villages in Scotland, at about 345 m, in the Cairngorms National Park. Together with Glenlivet it forms the Tomintoul and Glenlivet International Dark Sky Park. At a geomagnetic latitude of about 59°, the aurora is seen low in the north during moderate and strong storms.
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.