Northern Lights

What Are the Northern Lights – and Why Can You Sometimes See Them from Porth Veor Manor Hotel?

The Aurora Borealis
The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are one of nature’s most captivating sights. Soft waves of green, pink, purple and red light ripple across the night sky, creating a magical experience that many people travel the world to see.

While they’re most often associated with destinations like Iceland or Norway, these extraordinary lights can occasionally be seen much closer to home – including from Cornwall, and even during a stay at Porth Veor Manor Hotel in Newquay.

What Are the Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights are caused by activity on the sun. The sun constantly releases charged particles into space, known as the solar wind. During periods of increased solar activity, large bursts of these particles are sent towards Earth.
When they reach our planet, the particles collide with gases high in Earth’s atmosphere, mainly oxygen and nitrogen. These collisions release energy as light, producing the glowing colours we see in the sky. Green is the most common colour, while red, purple and blue displays are rarer.

Why Are the Northern Lights Usually Seen Further North?
Earth’s magnetic field pulls these charged particles towards the magnetic poles, creating an area known as the auroral oval. This is why the Northern Lights are usually visible in high-latitude regions near the Arctic Circle.
However, when solar activity is particularly strong, the auroral oval can expand further south, allowing auroras to be seen in parts of the UK well beyond Scotland.

Courtesy of © Audra Sparks

Why Can the Northern Lights Be Seen from Cornwall?
Although sightings are rare, Cornwall can experience Northern Lights displays when conditions are right:

• • Strong solar storms push the aurora further south than normal
• • Lower light pollution compared to major cities helps faint displays stand out
• • Open coastal viewpoints provide wide horizons for viewing the northern sky
• • Modern cameras and smartphones often capture colours not immediately visible to the naked eye

At Porth Veor Manor Hotel, the elevated position above Porth Beach and the surrounding coastline offers an excellent setting for stargazing on clear nights.

Courtesy of © Audra Sparks

When Is the Best Time to Look During Your Stay?
There’s no guaranteed time to see the Northern Lights, but your chances improve when:

• • Solar activity is high
• • Skies are clear and dark
• • You’re away from bright street lighting
• • You’re looking north between 9pm and 2am

Auroras can occur at any time of year, though darker autumn and winter skies make them easier to spot.

Courtesy of © Audra Sparks

A Magical Moment by the Cornish Coast
Seeing the Northern Lights during a stay at Porth Veor Manor Hotel is a rare and unforgettable experience. Even when the aurora doesn’t appear, the hotel’s coastal location offers peaceful evenings, dark skies and breathtaking views – perfect for unwinding and reconnecting with nature.

If you’re lucky enough to spot a mysterious glow or shifting light in the northern sky during your stay, you may just be witnessing the Aurora Borealis making a special appearance over Cornwall.

Audra’s photographs were taken on 19th January 2026.