SCOTLAND
Full disclosure: Scotland will not provide your highest probability of seeing the northern lights. That said, on a clear night in the depths of winter, far from bright lights (and with no full moon), the ‘mirrie dancers’ may perform. The Caithness region is as far north as you can go on the British mainland. At John O’ Groats, modern wooden chalets by Natural Retreats offer sweeping coastal views, plus the chance to dash outside when the skies erupt. Even in the case of an aurora no-show, the wide landscapes and mysterious Stone Age monuments of Caithness are truly compelling.
MAKE IT HAPPEN
Natural Retreats has a wide choice of rooms and lodges around John O’ Groats (from £110; naturalretreats.com). John O’ Groats is 30 minutes’ drive from Wick, which has a small airport with flights from Aberdeen and Edinburgh (from £170; flybe.com), plus trains from Inverness that take 4½ hours (from £10; scotrail.co.uk).