In September and October, Scotland's weather begins to stabilise with more clear skies as the seasons change. The darker nights also make it the ideal time to indulge in a spot of stargazing.
Heading away from the cities and all of the light pollution they bring you'll find the ideal spots to view the night sky – weather permitting of course.
Avoiding nights when the moon is full can also help but if you want to maximise your chance of seeing everything from planets like Jupiter and Venus to meteors and shooting stars then you'll want to discover Scotland's Dark Skies Park and top Dark-sky Communities.
And it's not just the stars and a glimpse of the Milky Way that's on offer, Scotland is also one of the best places in Europe to spot the incredible Aurora Borealis (or Northern Lights ) as they dance in the night sky.
Here are some of the best places around Scotland for stargazing.
Northern Lights: The best places to see the Aurora Borealis in Scotland
Glen Brittle, Isle of Skye
Recently named one of the best places in Scotland for stargazing, Glen Brittle on the Isle of Skye, which is an area of the famous remote Scottish island well known for its natural beauty, is one of the best places in the country to avoid light pollution.
This means on a clear night, you are guaranteed to see thousands of stars.
Isle of Coll
Staying in the islands, Coll, which lies just off Mull's West coast, has been designated one of the world's top Dark-sky Communities and its clear vistas of the night sky are unspoiled by light pollution.
Though you can never guarantee the weather, Coll is amongst the best for clear skies, with no high mountains to attract cloud build-up.
Guests to the island can look forward to possible glimpses of the Northern Lights as well as an unrivalled view of the Milky Way which can be seen as early as mid-August as the nights noticeably draw in.
Moffat, Dumfries and Galloway
Taking the title of Europe's first Dark Sky Town, the community at Moffat in Dumfries and Galloway care very much about their stargazing prowess.
So much so, that they have even adopted special street lighting to keep light pollution to a minimum to make the stars easier to see.
As a dark sky town, Moffat is one of the best places for total dark meaning you will see more stars in the night sky than anywhere else.
Galloway Forest Park
Another place to visit in the south of Scotland, this forest park is a great place to spot wildlife such as red squirrels in the day time and at night, it really comes into its own for the night sky.
With the highest hills in southern Scotland, Galloway Forest Park was even the site of the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory before it was tragically burned down.
Spey Valley, Cairngorms National Park
As well as spectacular star gazing, Cairngorms National Park offers one of the best places for a view of the Aurora Borealis. The Glenlivet Estate is the first specially designated Dark Sky Discovery Site in the park.
Campsie Glen Car Park
Just 35 minutes away from Glasgow, this car park near the Campsie Fells is perfect for escaping the street lights and getting a great view of the night sky. Take a warm jacket and a flask, as well as a chair, to enjoy the view.
Blackford Hill, Edinburgh
Home to the Royal Observatory Edinburgh, this is one of the best spots for stargazing near Edinburgh. If you can't make it that far out of the city, then a trip up Arthur's Seat is also recommended for stargazing though be sure to take torches and lamps for the walk (switch them off when you get to the summit to allow your eyes to adjust to the dark).
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