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The Light calendar

Plan around the light.

Daylight month by month for Lerwick, Stornoway, Inverness and Edinburgh, computed from their latitude, with the seasons that matter: seabirds, machair, midges, stalking, the aurora and the festivals.

Choose a month

January

The shortest days and the best chance of aurora in the north. Fires, empty roads, and Up Helly Aa in Lerwick.

  • Shetland

    Lerwick

    6 h 41 min

    Sunrise 08:54 · Sunset 15:34 (UK time, 15 January)

  • Lewis

    Stornoway

    7 h 09 min

    Sunrise 09:00 · Sunset 16:09 (UK time, 15 January)

  • The Highlands

    Inverness

    7 h 18 min

    Sunrise 08:47 · Sunset 16:05 (UK time, 15 January)

  • The gateway

    Edinburgh

    7 h 37 min

    Sunrise 08:34 · Sunset 16:10 (UK time, 15 January)

In January

  • Aurora likely on clear dark nights Shetland, Orkney, Lewis, north-facing coastsverify
  • Up Helly Aa Lerwick, last Tuesday in Januaryverify
  • Barnacle geese Islay, Loch Gruinartverify

February

Still short days and some storms. Good for Edinburgh, estates with fires, and geese on Islay.

  • Shetland

    Lerwick

    9 h 10 min

    Sunrise 07:43 · Sunset 16:54 (UK time, 15 February)

  • Lewis

    Stornoway

    9 h 24 min

    Sunrise 07:58 · Sunset 17:22 (UK time, 15 February)

  • The Highlands

    Inverness

    9 h 29 min

    Sunrise 07:47 · Sunset 17:15 (UK time, 15 February)

  • The gateway

    Edinburgh

    9 h 38 min

    Sunrise 07:38 · Sunset 17:16 (UK time, 15 February)

In February

  • Aurora likely on clear dark nights Shetland, Orkney, Lewis, north-facing coastsverify
  • Barnacle geese Islay, Loch Gruinartverify

March

Light returns fast: the days lengthen by several minutes a day. Quiet, often cold, sometimes clear.

  • Shetland

    Lerwick

    11 h 44 min

    Sunrise 06:22 · Sunset 18:05 (UK time, 15 March)

  • Lewis

    Stornoway

    11 h 45 min

    Sunrise 06:42 · Sunset 18:27 (UK time, 15 March)

  • The Highlands

    Inverness

    11 h 46 min

    Sunrise 06:33 · Sunset 18:19 (UK time, 15 March)

  • The gateway

    Edinburgh

    11 h 47 min

    Sunrise 06:28 · Sunset 18:15 (UK time, 15 March)

In March

  • Aurora likely on clear dark nights Shetland, Orkney, Lewis, north-facing coastsverify
  • Barnacle geese Islay, Loch Gruinartverify

April

Spring proper. Lambing, the first seabirds back on the cliffs, and very few visitors.

  • Shetland

    Lerwick

    14 h 34 min

    Sunrise 05:48 · Sunset 20:22 (UK time, 15 April)

  • Lewis

    Stornoway

    14 h 23 min

    Sunrise 06:14 · Sunset 20:37 (UK time, 15 April)

  • The Highlands

    Inverness

    14 h 19 min

    Sunrise 06:08 · Sunset 20:26 (UK time, 15 April)

  • The gateway

    Edinburgh

    14 h 11 min

    Sunrise 06:07 · Sunset 20:18 (UK time, 15 April)

In April

  • Puffins and seabirds (start or end of the season) Shetland, Orkney, the Treshnish Islesverify
  • Spirit of Speyside Speyside, late April or early Mayverify

May

Often settled in the west, with the midges not yet out. The best all-round month for the islands.

  • Shetland

    Lerwick

    17 h 11 min

    Sunrise 04:26 · Sunset 21:36 (UK time, 15 May)

  • Lewis

    Stornoway

    16 h 44 min

    Sunrise 05:00 · Sunset 21:44 (UK time, 15 May)

  • The Highlands

    Inverness

    16 h 35 min

    Sunrise 04:56 · Sunset 21:31 (UK time, 15 May)

  • The gateway

    Edinburgh

    16 h 18 min

    Sunrise 05:00 · Sunset 21:18 (UK time, 15 May)

In May

  • Puffins and seabirds Shetland, Orkney, the Treshnish Islesverify
  • Midges (start or end of the season) Worst on still evenings on the west coastverify
  • Spirit of Speyside Speyside, late April or early Mayverify
  • Fèis Ìle Islay, late Mayverify

June

The longest light. Machair begins to flower, seabirds on the cliffs, and the simmer dim in Shetland.

  • Shetland

    Lerwick

    18 h 52 min

    Sunrise 03:39 · Sunset 22:31 (UK time, 15 June)

  • Lewis

    Stornoway

    18 h 12 min

    Sunrise 04:20 · Sunset 22:32 (UK time, 15 June)

  • The Highlands

    Inverness

    17 h 59 min

    Sunrise 04:18 · Sunset 22:17 (UK time, 15 June)

  • The gateway

    Edinburgh

    17 h 34 min

    Sunrise 04:26 · Sunset 22:00 (UK time, 15 June)

In June

  • Puffins and seabirds Shetland, Orkney, the Treshnish Islesverify
  • Machair in flower The Uists, Barra, Tiree and Harrisverify
  • Midges Worst on still evenings on the west coastverify

July

Warm by Scottish standards, busy on Skye, quiet on the Long Island. Machair at its best; midges on still evenings.

  • Shetland

    Lerwick

    18 h 07 min

    Sunrise 04:07 · Sunset 22:14 (UK time, 15 July)

  • Lewis

    Stornoway

    17 h 34 min

    Sunrise 04:45 · Sunset 22:18 (UK time, 15 July)

  • The Highlands

    Inverness

    17 h 23 min

    Sunrise 04:42 · Sunset 22:04 (UK time, 15 July)

  • The gateway

    Edinburgh

    17 h 01 min

    Sunrise 04:48 · Sunset 21:49 (UK time, 15 July)

In July

  • Puffins and seabirds Shetland, Orkney, the Treshnish Islesverify
  • Machair in flower The Uists, Barra, Tiree and Harrisverify
  • Midges Worst on still evenings on the west coastverify
  • Red stag season Highland and island estates. Never part of our trips unless askedverify

August

School holidays and the Edinburgh festivals. Estates and family groups; book far ahead.

  • Shetland

    Lerwick

    15 h 42 min

    Sunrise 05:18 · Sunset 21:00 (UK time, 15 August)

  • Lewis

    Stornoway

    15 h 24 min

    Sunrise 05:48 · Sunset 21:12 (UK time, 15 August)

  • The Highlands

    Inverness

    15 h 19 min

    Sunrise 05:42 · Sunset 21:01 (UK time, 15 August)

  • The gateway

    Edinburgh

    15 h 07 min

    Sunrise 05:44 · Sunset 20:51 (UK time, 15 August)

In August

  • Puffins and seabirds (start or end of the season) Shetland, Orkney, the Treshnish Islesverify
  • Midges Worst on still evenings on the west coastverify
  • Red stag season Highland and island estates. Never part of our trips unless askedverify

September

Settled spells, fewer midges and warm seas. The second-best month for the islands.

  • Shetland

    Lerwick

    12 h 55 min

    Sunrise 06:32 · Sunset 19:28 (UK time, 15 September)

  • Lewis

    Stornoway

    12 h 52 min

    Sunrise 06:55 · Sunset 19:47 (UK time, 15 September)

  • The Highlands

    Inverness

    12 h 50 min

    Sunrise 06:47 · Sunset 19:37 (UK time, 15 September)

  • The gateway

    Edinburgh

    12 h 48 min

    Sunrise 06:44 · Sunset 19:32 (UK time, 15 September)

In September

  • Midges (start or end of the season) Worst on still evenings on the west coastverify
  • Red stag season Highland and island estates. Never part of our trips unless askedverify

October

Autumn colour, stags roaring, dark evenings returning. Good for the Cairngorms and Deeside.

  • Shetland

    Lerwick

    10 h 13 min

    Sunrise 07:44 · Sunset 17:57 (UK time, 15 October)

  • Lewis

    Stornoway

    10 h 21 min

    Sunrise 08:01 · Sunset 18:22 (UK time, 15 October)

  • The Highlands

    Inverness

    10 h 24 min

    Sunrise 07:51 · Sunset 18:15 (UK time, 15 October)

  • The gateway

    Edinburgh

    10 h 30 min

    Sunrise 07:44 · Sunset 18:13 (UK time, 15 October)

In October

  • Red stag season Highland and island estates. Never part of our trips unless askedverify
  • Aurora likely on clear dark nights Shetland, Orkney, Lewis, north-facing coastsverify
  • Barnacle geese Islay, Loch Gruinartverify

November

Short, often wet days. Edinburgh and the estates; some island ferries change to winter timetables.

  • Shetland

    Lerwick

    7 h 32 min

    Sunrise 08:03 · Sunset 15:35 (UK time, 15 November)

  • Lewis

    Stornoway

    7 h 54 min

    Sunrise 08:13 · Sunset 16:07 (UK time, 15 November)

  • The Highlands

    Inverness

    8 h 02 min

    Sunrise 08:00 · Sunset 16:02 (UK time, 15 November)

  • The gateway

    Edinburgh

    8 h 17 min

    Sunrise 07:49 · Sunset 16:06 (UK time, 15 November)

In November

  • Aurora likely on clear dark nights Shetland, Orkney, Lewis, north-facing coastsverify
  • Barnacle geese Islay, Loch Gruinartverify

December

The darkest month. Fires, long dinners, and the solstice light at Maeshowe.

  • Shetland

    Lerwick

    5 h 53 min

    Sunrise 09:03 · Sunset 14:56 (UK time, 15 December)

  • Lewis

    Stornoway

    6 h 27 min

    Sunrise 09:07 · Sunset 15:34 (UK time, 15 December)

  • The Highlands

    Inverness

    6 h 39 min

    Sunrise 08:53 · Sunset 15:31 (UK time, 15 December)

  • The gateway

    Edinburgh

    7 h 00 min

    Sunrise 08:38 · Sunset 15:38 (UK time, 15 December)

In December

  • Aurora likely on clear dark nights Shetland, Orkney, Lewis, north-facing coastsverify
  • Barnacle geese Islay, Loch Gruinartverify

The whole year

Daylight, station by station.

Sunrise to sunset on the 15th of each month, computed from each town’s latitude with the NOAA solar equations. No source needed, and no rounding to make it sound better.

Daylight by month, LerwickJAN 6 h 41 min, FEB 9 h 10 min, MAR 11 h 44 min, APR 14 h 34 min, MAY 17 h 11 min, JUN 18 h 52 min, JUL 18 h 07 min, AUG 15 h 42 min, SEP 12 h 55 min, OCT 10 h 13 min, NOV 7 h 32 min, DEC 5 h 53 minJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDECLongest day18 h 52 minLerwick
Lerwick · longest 18 h 56 min, shortest 5 h 49 min
Daylight by month, StornowayJAN 7 h 09 min, FEB 9 h 24 min, MAR 11 h 45 min, APR 14 h 23 min, MAY 16 h 44 min, JUN 18 h 12 min, JUL 17 h 34 min, AUG 15 h 24 min, SEP 12 h 52 min, OCT 10 h 21 min, NOV 7 h 54 min, DEC 6 h 27 minJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDECLongest day18 h 12 minStornoway
Stornoway · longest 18 h 15 min, shortest 6 h 24 min
Daylight by month, InvernessJAN 7 h 18 min, FEB 9 h 29 min, MAR 11 h 46 min, APR 14 h 19 min, MAY 16 h 35 min, JUN 17 h 59 min, JUL 17 h 23 min, AUG 15 h 19 min, SEP 12 h 50 min, OCT 10 h 24 min, NOV 8 h 02 min, DEC 6 h 39 minJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDECLongest day17 h 59 minInverness
Inverness · longest 18 h 01 min, shortest 6 h 35 min
Daylight by month, EdinburghJAN 7 h 37 min, FEB 9 h 38 min, MAR 11 h 47 min, APR 14 h 11 min, MAY 16 h 18 min, JUN 17 h 34 min, JUL 17 h 01 min, AUG 15 h 07 min, SEP 12 h 48 min, OCT 10 h 30 min, NOV 8 h 17 min, DEC 7 h 00 minJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDECLongest day17 h 34 minEdinburgh
Edinburgh · longest 17 h 36 min, shortest 6 h 57 min
MonthLerwickStornowayInvernessEdinburgh
January6 h 41 min7 h 09 min7 h 18 min7 h 37 min
February9 h 10 min9 h 24 min9 h 29 min9 h 38 min
March11 h 44 min11 h 45 min11 h 46 min11 h 47 min
April14 h 34 min14 h 23 min14 h 19 min14 h 11 min
May17 h 11 min16 h 44 min16 h 35 min16 h 18 min
June18 h 52 min18 h 12 min17 h 59 min17 h 34 min
July18 h 07 min17 h 34 min17 h 23 min17 h 01 min
August15 h 42 min15 h 24 min15 h 19 min15 h 07 min
September12 h 55 min12 h 52 min12 h 50 min12 h 48 min
October10 h 13 min10 h 21 min10 h 24 min10 h 30 min
November7 h 32 min7 h 54 min8 h 02 min8 h 17 min
December5 h 53 min6 h 27 min6 h 39 min7 h 00 min

Seasons

What happens when.

Every item here is general guidance pending a specialist check; dates change from year to year.

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Read about midsummer in the north.

The light in June
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