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.

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

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 2025 this will be 'Luminara'. 
Nearby B&Bs - Northlands Bed and Breakfast in Pitlochry, Brae House by Aberfeldy, Craigellie House near Blairgowrie

Kirkcudbright's Autumn Festival   
4 October 2025 
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.

GlasGLOW   
tbc late October - November 2025 
Glasgow Botanic Gardens are transformed into a spectacular sound and light show for Halloween. Tickets required.

Samhuinn   
tbc 31 October 2025, 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   
November 2025, Brodie Castle   
The National Trust for Scotland illuminates the grounds around Brodie Castle near Forres in Moray on the north east coast of Scotland. Usually held on Thursdays to Sundays. Tickets required.

Glasgow's Winterfest Christmas Market 
tbc November 2025 - early January 2026

Edinburgh Zoo's Giant Lanterns 
14 November 2025 - 22 February 2026 
A magical evening for all ages on certain dates over the winter months, this spectacular outdoor lantern trail is back at Edinburgh Zoo for the first time since 2019.

Oban Winter Festival 
14 November - 21 December 2025 
There's lots of actitivies including the Haggis & Whisky Festival, illuminations at Glencruitten Woods, plus food & craft markets and much more.

Aberdeen Christmas Village   
tbc mid November - end December 2025 
Food & drink stalls, gifts and fun fair in historic Aberdeen city centre.

Edinburgh Christmas Markets 
15 November 2025 - 4 January 2026 
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  
20 November - 30 December 2025, Edinburgh   
This festive illuminated trail showcases the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh after dark in spectacular fashion.

Christmas in Dundee   
tbc 20 November 2025 - 4 January 2026 
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 
21 November 2025 - 4 January 2026 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. Now in its 6th year, the theme will be 'Fire and Ice'.

Castle of Light - Edinburgh Castle © Historic Scotland

Perth Christmas  
tbc end November 2025 
Christmas Lights switch on with children's activities, market stalls and more!

Christmas at Crathes  
19 - 24 December 2025, 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 2025 - 1 January 2026 
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.

Winter 2026

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 
tbc early February 2026 
Scotland's Festival of Light returns to Aberdeen for its 12th year.

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.

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.