The tiny UK coastal village where you can see the Northern Lights – there’s even an alarm when they show up
A TINY coastal town in the UK is one of the best places to go for an autumn and winter staycation, especially for those hoping to see the northern lights.
During the summer months, the Scottish village is popular among surfers and is something of a hotspot for nature lovers, looking to see wild dolphins and grey seals.
However, Pennan in Aberdeenshire, Scotland is still more than worth visiting in the colder months too.
The seaside village has a stunning backdrop with the Aberdeenshire cliffs, the set of 1983 film Local Hero, surrounding it.
The turquoise seas look beautiful on a sunny day, but when the nights get darker in the winter months, it’s the sky’s turn to show off its colours, with the northern lights frequently seen over the village.
And visitors to the village staying at places like the , can opt to pay for an alarm from the owners, so they know when the aurora is visible.
The B&B’s website states: “The northern lights are visible from practically right our doorstep. You won’t have to travel anywhere in order to see them.
“I’ll make sure to accompany you during the northern lights tour and I can personally vouch that it’s going to be an unforgettable experience.”
Guests can also learn more about night photography so that they can catch perfect pictures of the aurora when it shows up in the evenings.
Although Pennan is a rugged village made up of just a few dozen houses that line up on a single street, there’s still plenty to see and do there.
Its most famous building is a little red phone box, also made famous by the film Local Hero.
Most people who visit make a call from the iconic box, which has listed building status, where oil executive Mac would connect to his Texas HQ in the movie.
The Pennan Inn also featured in the film, although scenes featuring the interior of the bar were actually filmed at The Ship Inn along the coast at Banff.
Visitors to the village can also take a trip to see Hell’s Lum, a collapsed sea cave accessed through a gaping hole in the cliffs over Cullykhan Bay.
There’s also Fort Fiddes, the remains of an ancient hill fort, overlooking the beach.
From September to April, guests can stay at the Pennan Inn from £216 for two for two nights.
Northern Lights tours with a pager alarm costs an additional £39 per stay.
Meanwhile, these are the best deals on early autumn short-haul breaks.
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