Chasing Lady Aurora in Cumbria

When one thinks of seeing the magical Northern Lights one automatically thinks of far flung places like Norway, Iceland and Alaska. But what we don’t realise is that Cumbrian homes can also get a chance to witness the beautiful night time display, if the conditions are good. Indeed this is exactly what happened this week when hundreds of lucky Cumbrian residents and holidaymakers were treated to a magnificent display of the Aurora Borealis. Cranmore House and Camellia Cottage are both lucky to have dark skies and no light pollution, and would be a perfect base to try your luck from.

So how do you chase Lady Aurora, as she is known amongst enthusiasts?

First of all, download an app that can track geomagnetic activity. Our favourite is AuroraWatch UK, which sends an alert when levels are amber or yellow. This week we had a solar storm and a flare caused intense activity which was seen as far South as Scotland, Cumbria and Northumberland.

Secondly, look towards the North (that will be Scotland for us in Cumbria!) and skyline.

Thirdly, remember that whilst you will see something with the naked eye, your camera picks up on the different hues better than our eyes, so get a tripod handy and stick your phone or camera on there.

Lastly, be patient, wrap up warm and wait for the show to begin! At Cranmore House and Camellia Cottage, we send our customers a text to let them know if any Aurora activity has been detected, so you never know, you might end up getting a lovely surprise at our cottages next time you stay!