8 activities to do under the stars in Scotland
Adventure doesn’t stop after dark in Scotland, from twilight kayaking along the River Tay to pitch-black bungee jumps in the Highlands.
With some of the darkest skies in Europe, it’s no surprise Scotland is a frequent stop for stargazers — there are often vivid skyscapes showcasing clear views of the Milky Way and its constellations, such as Orion’s Belt and, occasionally, even the Northern Lights. Several regions have taken additional measures to ensure the stars remain visible, too. Moffat in southern Scotland was named Europe’s first dark sky town after adopting specialist streetlamps to avoid light pollution, while various isles, including Rum and Coll in the Inner Hebrides and North Ronaldsay in Orkney, have also been designated dark sky areas.
There’s no denying Scotland comes alive under the moonlight, pairing its captivating night skies with activities that embrace its rugged terrain and neoclassical architecture, from kayaking and zip-lining to eerie walking tours. Here's what you can get up to under the cover of night.
1. Cycling, Dumfries and Galloway
Located in southwest Scotland, Galloway Forest Park has been a designated Dark Sky Park since 2009. With few people living within the boundaries of the almost 200,000-acre forest — the largest forest park in the UK and at the heart of the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere — its unpolluted skies offer unimpeded views of the Milky Way and Northern Lights. Head off road on a mountain bike with a local guide to spot the constellations; if cloud cover obstructs the typically illuminated skies, the nearby Dark Space Planetarium in Kirkcudbright showcases 360-degree immersive projections of the region and beyond.
How to do it: Galloway Activity Centre, based on the banks of Loch Ken, leads nighttime cycling groups of at least three throughout winter. Prices are £75 per person, including a power boat ride across the loch. Drive 30 minutes to the Dark Space Planetarium in Kirkcudbright, where entry costs from £6.
2. Zip-lining, Aviemore
The rugged topography of the Cairngorms, the UK’s largest national park, make the area an ideal escape for climbers, cyclists and wild swimmers, and by dark, zip-liners. In Aviemore, a village on the border of the national park, travellers can fly through the trees, across thrashing rivers and over depths of snow on zip-lining trails illuminated by multicoloured lights. On a clear night, it’s apparent why the region was awarded international dark sky status in 2018; its pitch-black skies are speckled with stars.
How to do it: G2 Outdoor runs nighttime zip-lining in Aviemore every year from late October until early January. The experience takes between 60 to 90 minutes and costs £48 per person.
3. Gothic walking tour, Glasgow
Scotland’s largest city is famed for its gothic architecture, most of which was built around its 13th -century cathedral and inspired an era of dark literature. For fans of the genre, follow tour guide Vincent P across the city on a two-hour retelling of its most spine-chilling tales, from the area formerly known as the ‘square mile of murder’ to the gruesome methods and machinery used for torture. There’s also opportunity to explore Glasgow’s most famed passages, including Argyle Street, the longest road in the city now known for acclaimed restaurants such as The Gannet.
How to do it: Gothic Glasgow tours run Wednesday to Sunday, starting at 8pm outside King’s Theatre in Glasgow city centre. Tickets are £12 per person and recommended for those aged 14 and above.
4. The Real Mary King’s Close, Edinburgh
The Royal Mile, leading to fortified Edinburgh Castle, is perhaps the Old Town’s most recognisable thoroughfare. Below what was the city’s Royal Exchange — since repurposed to house the City Chambers and luxury aparthotel Cheval Old Town Chambers — lie four narrow closes, including Mary King’s Close. Step deep underground (and back in time) on a guided tour of the former streets and preserved 17th -century rooms while learning the 400-year history of the houses and those that inhabited them.
How to do it: The Real Mary King’s Close runs one-hour tours just off the Royal Mile on Warriston’s Close. Tickets from £22.50.
(How to spend a day tram-hopping to Edinburgh's lively port district of Leith.)
5. Bungee jump, Perthshire
Many thrill-seekers are eager to tick a bungee jump off their bucket lists. But a pitch-black drop is another challenge. Known for being Europe’s only blackout bungee jump, visitors can drop 130ft over the River Garry from a purpose-built bungee platform an hour's drive north of Perth. Lose all sense of direction — if you’re brave enough — during the hair-raising experience, which is open all year round for ages 14 and over.
How to do it: Highland Fling Bungee is in Killiecrankie Visitor Centre and must be booked in advance online. Availability is limited, so booking at least a few months ahead is advised. The Blackout Bungee costs £99 per person.
6. Snorkelling, Oban
Led by a marine biologist on the west coast in the Scottish Highlands, this three-to-five-hour snorkelling experience showcases the bioluminescent aquatic life on Scotland’s shores. Due to Oban’s small population of just over 8,000 and lack of light pollution, venturing out at night showcases its luminous, star-studded skies. Join expert guides and instructors to discover the region’s cold-water reefs, kelp forests and seagrass meadows, as well as have the chance to spot the marine life below the surface.
How to do it: Wildlife and watersports tour operator Basking Shark Scotland runs tours from September to April, with a minimum age of eight to participate. While snorkelling doesn’t require certification, proficiency in the water is required. Prices are £120 per person.
7. Wildlife safari, Dornoch
Using innovative thermal imaging technology, travellers to Scotland’s outer reaches can observe the nocturnal habits of Highland wildlife including deer, badgers, hedgehogs and critically endangered pine martens. With tours operating in small groups of one to four people, participants get to see the animals in their natural environment. Led by expert, local guides, the immersive tours provide a chance to see the species — and the sweeping landscapes of Sutherland — in a new light.
How to do it: Connell Outdoor Pursuits in Dornoch runs safaris from September to April each year. Tours are £75 per person and must be arranged over the phone. Guests of the nearby Royal Golf Hotel can book through the property.
(Why the Scottish Highlands is the best birdwatching destination in the UK.)
8. Kayaking, Tay Country
This east coast region encompassing Perth, Dundee and St Andrews is ideal for spotting constellations, and on occasion, rare astronomical features and optical phenomena such as shooting stars and moonbows — a type of rainbow produced by moonlight rather than direct sunlight. There’s no better place to see all this than from a kayak on the River Tay or River Isla. The two main routes see kayakers paddle along the water through Perth’s city centre, or past the V&A museum on the banks of Dundee.
How to do it: Outdoor Explore heads out every other Friday until the end of February for nighttime excursions departing from Clunie Loch. Spaces cost from £29 and are available to book online.
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