Glamping places to glimpse the Northern Lights

On a clear night you can see The Milky Way, constellations and meteor showers in the dark skies of the Brecon Beacons. The entire National Park has been designated an International Dark Sky Reserve and the community goes to great lengths to minimise light pollution. In the right conditions, the Welsh skies can be lit up by the Northern Lights and there’s no better place to marvel at the spectacle than the Brecon Beacons. Stay close by — and off-grid — at Danyfan Carriage, 15 minutes away from the Dark Sky Reserve. As the greatest show on earth begins, grab the telescope and planisphere you’ve borrowed from hosts Emma and Stevie and unleash your inner Brian Cox. The setting is equally stunning in daylight with mountain views, a babbling stream and long hikes from the front door. The converted 20th century train carriage oozes period charm, but with the home comforts of a wood burner, piping hot shower and a deliciously comfy cast iron bed heaving with soft pillows.

Advancing further North, the Northern Lights have been spotted several times in Cumbria and groups like Cumbria Lights post alerts when there's a chance of witnessing their majesty. The best advice is to get up high with a clear view north under the darkest skies you can find. The Lake District obliges with its secluded valleys and remote fells far removed from city lights. Beautiful Derwentwater explodes with cinematic light when the streams of red and green aurora appear over the lake. According to BBC weather forecaster Simon King, "sightings are likely to become more regular as we approach the next solar maximum, when the Sun experiences peak activity, in July 2025". Stay 15 minutes away at Helvellyn Hut, a magical space with dramatic mountain views. It's in the heart of the wild but conveniently close to local shops and only 500m from a bus stop. With huge windows and a Japanese spa bath on the deck, you might catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights from a luxurious vantage point.

Northern Scotland lies at the same latitude as parts of Norway and Alaska so the chances of seeing the elusive aurora are much higher, especially from October to March on cold nights with clear skies. The wild landscape of Ullapool in the northwest of Scotland looks breathtaking when illuminated by undulating waves of green and purple light dancing across the night skies. Stay five minutes away in coastal splendour on a forest site where the owners are helping to rewild the Scottish Highlands. Red Squirrel Cabin sleeps two and its neighbour Pine Marten Cabin sleeps four in beautifully-designed luxury, with the chance to spot their namesakes as you eat a hearty breakfast on the deck overlooking Loch Broom. As you gear up for a night of sky gazing, spend your days on guided ecology walks, canoeing in Ullapool, ticking off local Munros or just lolling in the comfy living space and spotting wildlife through the huge windows.

For the ultimate winter wonderland experience, dedicated aurora hunters should head to Sweden. By January, the undulating rainbows of light are regularly seen throughout Swedish Lapland until as late as early April, with the most spectacular displays usually occurring between 10-11pm. If you’re venturing so far from home, treat yourself to a once-in-lifetime visit to the iconic Treehotel where you can stay in one of seven mind-boggling feats of design that (almost) equal the Northern Lights themselves for wow factor. Perched ten metres aloft in the pine trees, 7th Room is an architectural wonder with a huge suspended outdoor net and breathtaking views over the Lule River Valley. Inside, it’s all chic pale wood and hygge textiles but if you’re lucky enough to see the Northern Lights from these dizzying heights, you might struggle to recall the decor afterwards. Elsewhere on the site, you’ll find The Cabin, a stylish little UFO nestled in the trees with a very special feature – ladders that lead up to a rooftop terrace that double as a ringside seat for the epic light displays. Oscillating aurora lighting up the vast skies above and crisp snow below is an experience that will stay with you for a lifetime.