hey, thinking of going to see them in nov/dec not picked a country yet, so open to ideas, with locations,hotels etc and costs experiences.
Also when is best time to visit ?
thanks ak
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has anybody been to the northern lights help required ?
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Posted 2 years ago #
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Ifyou;re thinking of the aurora borealis, I wouldn't bother this year. The show is based on solar activity which runs in 11 year cycles and we're in a low activity cycle just now. I'd suggest starting here for info
Living in Scotland, I've seen them several times, the best being a show that covered the whole sky from horizon to horizon. Apparently, the further north you go, the better, but I'd probably stay on mainland Scotland or Orkney/Shetland.Posted 2 years ago # -
http://www.dcs.lancs.ac.uk/iono/aurorawatch/
Some good info on here!
Posted 2 years ago # -
I went to Reykjavik last November with a hope of seeing the Northern Lights. No luck with seeing them but this site was recommended by a number of people and did indeed forecast that we wouldn't see them at that time. Being in Reykjavik I wasn't too disappointed as it's a brilliant place anyway.
There were loads of private and coach tours that would take you to look for them though from about £20. Best time to go is in the winter apparently but you do need to be lucky with the solar activity and cloud cover.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I **thought** that a company did special trips (London flights when apropriate).
Ps I have lived in Shetlands and Dunnet Head (tip of Scotland), they're an impressive sight.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Seen it several times in Svalbard in Feb/March - polar night increases your chances of seeing it for obvious reasons. Don't forget though the aurora zone is a ring - Svalbard is a bit far north really - Tromso area, or maybe somewhere like Fairbanks in the US would be better.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Saw them once when we lived in Lossiemouth. remember the old man shaking me awake to see them.
Posted 2 years ago # -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackpool_Illuminations
Bit more predictable, and more chance of a snog.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I was in Reykjavik in 2003 and was lucky to see an amazing show in the sky.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I saw them one night from the A4 about a mile from Avebury in Wiltshire. Astonishing sight that I'll never ever forget.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I saw a faint show from the top of Baildon Moor, near Leeds/Bradford Airport. Never seen them since.
however, my sister lives in Peace River, Alberta, Canada, and sent me some fantastic pics earlier this year. Not sure if they were local to her or a bit further north, but well impressive.
hang about, I'll see if I can find/upload them...
Posted 2 years ago # -
You can see them from Peebles at the right time of year. Night ride round the black route, stop at the mast, watch the Northern Lights ride back into Peebles for a few pints......thats got to be a good night out by anybodys measure!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Been lucky enough to see them in Finland and in Alaska, first time really freaked me out. Saw them 2 years ago in Joensuu, very rare and a fabulous experience.
Somewhere like the Lofoten Islands would be good, Tromso, Hammerfest. Norway is a bit rich though.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I was in Lapland in January with the intention of seeing them, but unfortunately cloud cover in that region meant there was no chance of seeing them.
However, I was a general snow trip (i.e. reindeer driving, snowmobiles, ice-fishing, husky sled driving, etc), so it didn't really matter.E-mail me if you'd like some suggestions for a company to use for a package & my thoughts on going to northern scandanavia for it.
It can cost a fortune to do but there's ways around the expense.Posted 2 years ago # -
I saw a faint show from the top of Baildon Moor, near Leeds/Bradford Airport. Never seen them since.
Faint show ! Well i was impressed at the time
Posted 2 years ago # -
As i live in Thurso and work off shore in the north sea i've seen them regularly. However a few years back when i was in the Royal Navy and was on excerxise in the arctic circle. With the carrier group being at "darken ship" (a defensive state with no artificial light on the main decks) as i stood on deck with the aurora beaurealis what felt like directly above me. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.
In answer to your question of where should you go, As far north as you can afford and at sea if possible or at least away from towns and light pollution!
Posted 2 years ago # -
As I said earlier, it's not a case of going as far north as you can as you can start to leave the aurora zone if you go too far.
Posted 2 years ago # -
We went on our honeymoon to Tromso a few years back, especially to see the northern lights. It was early January, and we saw bugger all. We had to find some other way to entertain ourselves through the 19 hours or darkness...
Posted 2 years ago # -
Went on a motorbike trip exactly a year ago to the North Cape, myself and a mate. We had several discussions about the oddness of 24 hour daylight then he asked do you think we'll see the Northern Lights?!!!! Worrying thing is that he is a Policeman.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Seen em in the Lakes (not the best place), Stirling, Orkney (lots) and north of Kiruna in Sweden - the latter being by far and away the most impressive!
Want to go back and see em again sometime, but as has been said, you are better waiting for a solar maxima to make the best of it, especially given the costs involved!
I would suggest the Arctic in early March though - enough light to do stuff during the day, and some ace light shows at night!
Posted 2 years ago #
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