A sand tombolo connecting the mainland to St Ninian's Isle, among the darkest skies and best aurora latitude in the UK once the nights draw in. In midsummer the 'simmer dim' means it barely gets dark at all, which is worth knowing before planning a stargazing trip here in July.
Famous tombolo (sand isthmus) beach, robust well-known landmark; at 60N, best aurora latitude in the UK.
Bigton car park at the tombolo.
Direct walk across the sand tombolo to St Ninian's Isle.
West Mainland, Orkney
A sweeping Atlantic-facing bay right beside the Neolithic village of Skara Brae, where the settlement itself was uncovered from…
West Mainland, Orkney
An open Atlantic clifftop on Orkney's west mainland with very little light pollution and a decent shot at the aurora this far n…
West Mainland, Orkney
A clifftop walk to Yesnaby Castle, an Atlantic sea stack on one of the windiest coastlines in the UK. The path stays close to u…