I spent the night in the UK's biggest National Park with both stargazing and Northern Light spotting

The Sun

4 hours ago

AS I gaze upwards, my eyes are greeted by dozens of brilliant white stars glittering across the deep blue midnight sky.
Welcome to Cairngorms National Park, the largest in the UK and one of the best places in the world to stargaze.
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My mum and I had escaped to the Highlands for a weekend break to immerse ourselves in nature — and with a sky like this on our doorstep, it wasn't hard to do.
That's the real standout of a holiday home at Cairngorm Bothies, its location.
And a luxury self-catering bothy — a Scottish hut — was my home for the next few days.
As well as a cosy interior, it featured a large decking area so we could soak up the sky at all hours.
When I checked in, staff member Sarah told me to look north if I wanted to see the Northern Lights.
Sadly they didn't make an appearance that night, but during the winter months, you're more likely to see them than not in these parts.
Luckily, any disappointment was eased by the roaring log burner and plump sofa, which were beckoning from within our cosy retreat.
While a bothy is typically a very basic shelter used by outdoor enthusiasts, the bothies here are a little fancier.
From the outside, our two-person bothy looked a little like Hagrid's Hut in the Harry Potter films.
Inside, however, it was kitted out with tartan furnishings and a snug bedroom, which had just enough space for a double bed.
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When you're not getting cosy by the fire or soaking up the endless stars, there's plenty else to get stuck into in the surrounding area.
Hiking is hugely popular, with the Cairngorms home to hundreds of trails suitable for all abilities.
If you're not much of a rambler, head to the Victorian village of Ballater, a short drive away, which is filled with boutique shops.
Ballater is also home to the Old Royal Station, once used by visitors to Balmoral Castle, as it was the closest station to the Royal Family's summer residence.
Queen Victoria
While the station closed to passengers in 1966, it has acted as a hub for tourism in the years since.
Inside you'll find a tourist information centre, a tea room that would not look out of place in an Agatha Christie novel, and a replica of a rail carriage used by Queen Victoria.
After glimpsing royal life, we drove the ten minutes to Balmoral Castle where we could soak up even more of the royals.
The castle wasn't open to the public when we were there, so Mum and I enjoyed a leisurely walk around the majestic lawns.
With no sign of any royals, we felt like we had the whole grounds to ourselves.
When it comes to filling your belly, this region isn't short of pubs serving slap-up Scottish food.
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Farquharsons Bar and Kitchen in nearby Braemar was one of our favourite evening spots, with a roaring fire at its centre and quaint garden out the back.
Expect hearty plates of bangers and mash, which we washed down with a pint of Tennent's, a local lager made with Scottish barley and water from Loch Katrine.
For something a little lighter, The Bothy tea room back in the village of Ballater serves proper sarnies crammed with meat as well as jacket spuds and some of the most delicate homebaked cakes I've ever seen.
Or you can pick up something from the supermarket to cook back at your bothy.
We definitely came home with stars in our eyes.