My wife and I will be visiting the Cairngorms National Park on May 12 and will "Sleep in a village in the Cairngorms National Park.".
A) Does anyone know what village that might be (May 5-17 trip)? and
2) I'd love to find some dark skies (if the weather cooperates) near this mythical village.
Given that vague and, I'm sure less than helpful information, does anyone have anything? Maybe just a "I dunno."?
Thanks
It is a guess , Tomintoul.
I know its a dark sky area I was there last summer on a hiking trip.
They are working to swap out the last few street lights and actually turn them off entirety at late evening too, I went on an Estate tour of Glenlivet estate.
If it is that place the Scalan farmstead is definitely worth visting
Interesting village anyhow
Huge show of the Northern lights on Monday across the UK
Yes that sounds like Tomintoul although in May the sun will not set until 9.30pm ish. The further north you go the longer the daylight hours become until the longest day of 20 June 2024 (the summer solstice) when they will begin to decrease once again.
This site has information about the dark skies park
and these will tell you more about Scalan Mills mentioned earlier
www.crownestatescotland.com/news/royal-opening-scalan-mills
www.tomintoulandglenlivet.com/listings/scalan-seminary-and-mills
Out of interest who is organising this trip for you?
I hadn't considered latitude. A quick check....it's even with Alaska! Well, time means nothing on vacation.
It's a Rick Steve's Scotland in 13 Days Tour (May 5, 2024 — May 17, 2024).
Took my american cousins up to nearby Dulmain Bridge in early June once by the the it got to past 11pm ,they asked " is it Ever going to go dark"
I would think your accomodation will be down on Speyside in all probability, Aviemore has quite a bit of light pollution.
I liked Tomintoul a lot visted 3 times.
Richmond Hotel has a good public bar.,free pool table and jukebox ,very friendly staff
Lots of local trails.
The estate office at the top of the street has a small vistor centre
A taxi from Aviemore is about £55
Bird hide ,just on the village edge.
I was there when the mobile cinema the screenmachine came calling.
I was up on Lewis last midsummer plenty light enough at midnight to wander about
