There’s nothing quite like gazing at the enormity of the stars above to put things into perspective, seeing galaxies, constellations and planets in the night sky – or even the magical Northern Lights.
There are several places you can go to stargaze without even leaving Edinburgh, while a short drive of under an hour will take you to darker skies where even more of the wonders of the galaxy will be revealed.
You don’t need any fancy or expensive equipment – a pair of cheap binoculars is plenty for a beginner, while a mobile phone app such as Star Walk can help you tell your Canis Majors from your Ursa Minors.
Keep an eye on the news for any celestial events too – including meteor showers, lunar eclipses, comets and the phases of the moon – so you can time your trips accordingly.
You may even be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Earlier this month they were visible across the country and astronomers have predicted that there could be further displays this week.
And, it goes without saying that you should check the weather forecast so that you don’t end up looking at cloud all night.
Once you’ve done your astonomical homework, here are 10 of the best places to go to see the stars within an hour of the Capital.
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9. Aberlady Nature Reserve
Plenty of other areas of East Lothian are good for wannbe astronomers, including the areas around Drem, Gullane, Athelstaneford and East Linton. Aberlady Nature Reserve is a particularly fine spot for a night looking to the heavens. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
10. Gladhouse Reservoir
Driving south from Edinburgh, the light pollution is too high for stargazing until you reach Leadburn - around a 40 minute drive away. Nearby Gladhouse Reservoir is an easily-accessible place from which to marvel at the skies. Photo: Google Maps