Winter Lights

The end of the year can be a most magical time with spectacular autumn colours across the forests and hills, the first sprinkling of snow on the mountain tops and the sound of a good crunchy frost underfoot. Many people prefer to visit at this time of year as the landscape is transformed. It is an especially popular time for photographers and wildlife watchers as well as skiers waiting for the first snow at Aviemore and Glencoe. Christmas Markets and Craft Fairs pop up giving you the opportunity to purchase Scottish gifts and produce for that unique Christmas present.

Many of our recommended B&Bs are open all year and are ready to welcome you with roaring fires, home baking and of course, drying rooms for outdoor gear.

Aurora Borealis

As spectacular as these light installations can be, nothing can rival the famous Northern Lights (also called the Aurora Borealis). The darker skies of autumn and winter (October - March) give the best viewing conditions for these colourful merry dancers. Sightings are likely to be more frequent in 2024/25 due to reaching the solar maximum of the 11-year cycle. Generally the best chances to see them are in places with low light pollution such as the coastline around the Highlands and Islands. The Galloway Forest in Dumfries & Galloway was Scotland's first Dark Sky Park. The Tomintoul and Glenlivet area of the Cairngorms is the most northerly Dark Sky Park in the world (and the darkest in the UK). Moffat (in Dumfries & Galloway) is a Dark Sky Town thanks to special street lighting. On our web site you can read about Stargazing in Galloway.

Here are some popular Christmas and wintertime events. See our separate page which lists Christmas markets in Scotland.

Burning of the Clavie 
11 January Burghead, Moray 
Welcome in the "Auld" New Year as old traditions are rekindled at this ancient fire festival in Burghead. This is the original Hogmanay before the calendar changed in 1660. A spectacular event celebrated every year.

Spectra Festival 
6 - 9 February 2025 
Scotland's Festival of Light returns to Aberdeen for its 11th year.

Ancient Forest Twi-Lights 
23 November 2024 – 5 January 2025, and 8 – 19 February 2025 
Visit the Landmark Forest Adventure Park near Carrbridge in the Highlands to enjoy this dazzling sound and light trail through the trees.

The Enchanted Forest   
2 October - 3 November 2025, Pitlochry, Perthshire  
Scotland’s premier light and sound event uses the autumnal splendour of Faskally Wood as a natural backdrop to a glittering and original experience that is simply spectacular. Each year has a different theme and for 2024 this will be 'Symphony of Nature'.  
Nearby B&Bs - Northlands Bed and Breakfast in Pitlochry, Brae House by Aberfeldy, Craigellie House near Blairgowrie

Winter 2024

Kirkcudbright's Autumn Festival   
3 - 5 October 2024 
The festival includes lantern making and light displays in this historic Dumfries & Galloway town including the Lantern Parade and spectacular fireworks display on the Saturday night.

Wondrous Woods 
tbc late October – mid November 2025, Gosford House, East Lothian Illuminated woodland trail around Gosford House which was in the TV series Outlander. The event will be back in 2025.

GlasGLOW   
25 October - 10 November 2024 
Glasgow Botanic Gardens are transformed into a spectacular sound and light show for Halloween. Tickets required.

Samhuinn   
tbc 31 October 2024, Holyrood Park, Edinburgh   
Celebrate the Celtic New Year on Halloween with this unique procession of fire-dancing, acrobatics, drumming and immersive performances organised by the Beltane Fire Society.

Brodie Illuminated   
1 - 24 November 2024, Brodie Castle   
The National Trust for Scotland illuminates the grounds around Brodie Castle near Forres in Moray on the north east coast of Scotland. Held on Thursdays to Sundays. Tickets required.

Glasgow's Winterfest Christmas Market 
9 November 2024 - 6 January 2025

Oban Winter Festival 
15 - 24 November 2024 
There's lots of actitivies including illuminations at Glencruitten Woods, plus food & craft markets and much more.

Aberdeen Christmas Village   
15 November - 31 December 2024 
Food & drink stalls, gifts and fun fair in historic Aberdeen city centre.

Edinburgh Christmas Markets 
15 November 2024 - 4 January 2025 
The famous markets return to Edinburgh this year with stalls, fairground rides and Santa's grotto in Princes Street Gardens, plus more stalls and an ice rink in George Street.

Christmas at the Botanics  
21 November - 30 December 2024, Edinburgh   
This festive illuminated trail showcases the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh after dark in spectacular fashion.

Christmas in Dundee   
21 November 2024 - 5 January 2025 
A winter wonderland in City Square with market stalls, ice rink, funfair, food & drink, etc with a spectacular light show every evening. Santa experience (tickets required).

Castle of Light 
22 November 2024 - 4 January 2025, Edinburgh Castle  
On certain dates from the end of November, the biggest light experience Edinburgh has ever hosted uses state of the art projections to create a truly wonderful, immersive and unique lighting experience within the castle’s iconic walls. This new show for 2024 has the theme 'Defender of the Nation'.

Castle of Light - Edinburgh Castle © Historic Scotland

Perth Christmas  
23 - 24 November 2024 
Christmas Lights switch on with children's activities, market stalls and more!

Dundee Christmas Market WinterFest   
25 November 2024 - 1 January 2025 
New event in Slessor Gardens in Dundee with a vintage funfair, ice rink, Bavarian tavern, market stalls and much more.

Christmas Spectacular at Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park 
30 November - 23 December 2024 
Enjoy the Christmas show, Santa sleigh, dinosaur illuminations, train ride, festiva food and drink and possibly Scotland's biggest Christmas tree!

Dundee Hooley   
1 December 2024 
The Hooley has giant puppets, live music, and street theatre from 3pm - 8pm in Meadowside in Dundee City Centre. Lantern-making workshops and torchlight procession (tickets required) then a celebratory community ceilidh.

Christmas at Crathes  
18 - 24 December 2024, Aberdeenshire 
Crathes Castle hosts their exciting Illuminated Walled Garden & Woodland Trail, food market, gift market, Santa's grotto, children's activities and more.

Edinburgh's Hogmanay   
30 December 2024 - 1 January 2025 
Street Party, live music and fireworks. Cancelled due to bad weather conditions. Hopefully we can all celebrate New Year in style in Edinburgh next year!

Red Hot Higland Fling  
Due to return to Inverness for Hogmanay 2025 
Annual outdoor music concert with fireworks to celebrate the New Year in the Highland capital. Tickets required.

Comrie Flambeaux 
31 December, Comrie, Perthshire 
At this annual festival, the villagers of Comrie set alight the birch tree pole torches to fend off evil spirits When the clock strikes midnight.

Stonehaven Fireballs Ceremony 
31 December, Stonehaven 
This unique celebration of the New Year has been held for over 100 years in this historic Aberdeenshire town.

Christmas and Hogmanay

While Edinburgh's Hogmanay street party is usually a sell out, did you know that Inverness hosts an annual free party on New Year's Eve called the Red Hot Highland Fling? Among the more unusual celebrations at the turn of the year, the Biggar Bonfire is South Lanarkshire's own New Year celebration, while the Stonehaven Fireballs Ceremony is an ancient tradition in Aberdeenshire, and the Comrie Flambeaux is a unique torchlit procession in Perthshire.