Seeing the Northern Lights/Aurora Borealis has been on my bucket list for a very long time. When I first moved to Cornwall I had absolutely no idea that it would be possible to see it here.
Last year I started to see photos pop up on my newsfeed of people seeing the aurora here in Cornwall. I decided then that I was going to make it my mission to see it for myself.
I downloaded the Aurora Watch app which notifies you whenever there is a potential that you might be able to see it.
Every time the alert comes up I very quickly wrap up warm and head over to the north coast. I live in Falmouth on the south coast and there is a better chance of seeing an aurora on the north coast and in an area with very little light pollution. I have tried to see the aurora in various locations, but I usually head up to St Agnes as I have found that this area seems to have the least light pollution.
I have also had a few failed attempts where the app has notified me that there is a chance I might see it but I haven’t. This is usually down to cloud cover or it not being dark enough yet.
I have seen a couple of minor auroras around Cornwall, but on the 3rd of March 2024 I saw my best one yet!!
I had just got back from a very long drive when the alert went off. The forecast was clear skies which made me very hopeful. I very quickly grabbed my scarf and tripod and got back into the car and headed off to the north coast. A friend of mine was already watching the aurora and kept me updated throughout my journey up.
As soon as I arrived I got my phone out to do a test shot on the camera and WOW. It was glowing bright pink. It is weird because I couldn’t see the pink to the naked eye. I could see little white waves of movement and a green coloured glow on the horizon. I took the photo with long exposure and I was so shocked to see the pink colour. I could have stayed there watching it all night.
For those wanting to go and find the aurora the advice I would give would be to download the app, always check the weather forecast before heading out to see it and wrap up warm! It gets very cold when you are sat still for a long period of time late at night.
Polly in Paradise 
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