Scottish spot named one of Europe's best for stargazing
Why Glencoe is one of the best places in Europe for stargazing ahead of the Perseids peak
🌠 The Perseid meteor shower peaks overnight on 12 August! However, the almost-full Moon will unfortunately drown out a lot of the fainter meteors. Learn more, including when and where to see them, here: https://t.co/Zbbdt3WN9R
📷 Meteor Shower Over the Lighthouse © Yoshiki Abe pic.twitter.com/Mxi0uOCDUI — Royal Museums Greenwich (@RMGreenwich) August 7, 2025
The Scottish village of Glencoe was named the eighth best place in the whole of Europe for stargazing by Winstons Beds.
READ MORE: The reason why this 'bizarre' Scottish structure is shaped like a pineapple
Explaining why it was rated so highly, Time Out magazine said that it is home to a dark sky area that is pretty far from the nearest cities.
READ MORE: Scottish airport vows improvements for visitor terminal following complaints
Situated in the West Highlands, it also has designated stargazing spots, making it ideal for what has been dubbed "noctotourism".
The village of Glencoe has long been a popular place for travellers thanks to its position between the "towering mountains" of Glen Coe, according to Visit Scotland.
These were formed over millennia by shifting glaciers and volcanic eruptions.
The village is also next to the banks of Loch Leven and has been called the "perfect base" for exploring the Lochaber area, which is also known as the Outdoor Capital of the UK.
When will the Perseid meteor shower peak in Scotland?
Royal Museums Greenwich has said that the Perseid meteor shower will peak tonight (Tuesday, August 12).
The shower, which will be visible until August 24, is said to be "one of the most dramatic things to see in the night sky between July and August".
READ MORE: Inside the abandoned 'fairytale' castle in Scotland that has been 'forgotten'
This stunning sight is caused when debris from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle slams into the Earth, creating a fiery display.
The average speed for one of these meteors is around 36 miles per second.
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