Scots island among world’s best for stargazing with stunningly clear night skies

A TINY Scots island with just 40 residents has been named one of the best locations to stargaze in the world – thanks to its crystal clear night skies.

Situated more than 20 miles out in the Atlantic ocean off the west coast, the Isle of Rùm has been named Scotland‘s first International Dark Sky Sanctuary by DarkSky International.

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The island is accessed via ferry from Mallaig on the mainland and around 40 miles south of the Isle of Skye.

There are currently five locations in Scotland which are considered Dark Sky Places – meaning the area is protected from excessive artificial light – but Rùm is the first to meet the stricter night sky criteria.

With its low level of light pollution, Rùm – known as ‘The Forbidden Isle‘ – joins just 20 other locations across the world considered to be dark sky sanctuaries.

There is only one other sanctuary in Europe, Ynys Enlli in Wales, which received the accolade in 2023.

It is possible to view the Milky Way, planets and the northern lights on a clear night when staying on Rum.

DarkSky International said there had been a lot of work to gain the recognition and it was down to the Isle of Rùm Community Trust and Scotland’s nature agency NatureScot.

Programme manager Amber Harrison said the new status would also offer added protection to the island’s natural habitats.

She said: “This certification represents the hard work and dedication of advocates, residents, and community officials who recognise the value of Rùm’s natural and cultural resources and are dedicated to safeguarding them against human impacts into the future.”

The main village of Rùm- Kinloch – is home to just 30 people – and has a village hall, a shop and no street lighting

The island – the biggest out of the group of Small Isles – is home to the Rùm National Nature Reserve with scenic walks and wild-life walking.

In spring and summer, more than 120,000 pairs of manx shearwater arrive on the island to breed.

Lesley Watt, NatureScot’s NNR manager for Rùm, explained dark nights were key to the birds‘ survival because their fledglings were at risk of being disorientated by artificial street lighting.

And now work has started on new projects around the Dark Sky status.

There is a plan for a tower to be built with telescopes to help with viewing the night sky.

A 24-hour camera and weather station is also planned so there is a opportunity to view online.

It will join a programme of events and signs will be constructed to educate visitors and locals about the health and nature benefits of dark skies.

Alex Mumford, who led Rùm’s Dark Sky bid, said: “We are thrilled to become Scotland’s first Dark Sky Sanctuary and relish the prospect of the impact we can have far and wide.

“It has been a long process and a lot of hard work has gone into this and we hope to provide inspiration around the world for other small communities to do the same.”

Scotland’s five Dark Sky Places include Moffat and Galloway Forest Park, which is the UK’s largest forest park, both based in Dumfries and Galloway; Tomintoul and Glenlivet in the Cairngorms; Shetland and Orkney’s North Ronaldsay most northernmost island, and the tiny island of Coll off the coast of Oban.