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. Some are open over the Christmas and New Year holidays and ALL will be happy to welcome you to their homes!

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

The Enchanted Forest   
3 October - 3 November 2024, 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

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.

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.

GlasGLOW   
tbc November 2024 
This year Glasgow Botanic Gardens are transformed into 'The Land That Time Forgot' in a spectacular sound and light show which has proved incredibly popular.

Elfingrove  
tbc end November to early January 
Spectacular winter skating for families at Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum in Glasgow.

Brodie Illuminated   
tbc 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. Usually held on Wednesdays to Saturdays in November.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Beecraigs Festive Forest   
tbc 1 - 23 December 2024, near Linlithgow  
Laser shows and stunning lighting effects around the country park make this a truly atmospheric experience, along with the festive food fayre and Santa's grotto.

Perth Christmas  
tbc early December 2024 
Christmas Lights switch on with children's activities, market stalls and more!

Christmas Lunch at Edinburgh Castle   
Some weekends in December 
Enjoy a festive 3-course meal in the beautiful surroundings of the Queen Anne Room at Edinburgh Castle. Pre booking is required.

Christmas at Crathes  
tbc 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.

Rough Castle's Christmas Experience  
tbc December 2024 
Falkirk 
Christmas Woodland Experience at the iconic Falkirk Wheel. Funfair attractions, playground, Santa's grotto, Polar Express tractor ride, 1.4km woodland trail and more.

Edinburgh's Hogmanay   
30 December 2024 - 1 January 2025 
Street Party, live music and fireworks. Celebrate New Year in style once again in Edinburgh.

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.

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 2025 
Scotland's Festival of Light returns to Aberdeen with its 10th anniversary in 2024.

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. The frequency of sightings can depend on sunspot activity which is governed by an 11-year solar 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.