There’s something magical about walking through a dark forest in Scotland and turning a corner to find the trees lit up in colour. That’s a light trail – an after-dark walk through a garden, woodland or castle grounds, filled with illuminated installations, projections and music. You book a time slot, wrap up warm and wander round at your own pace, usually in about an hour.
Scotland’s light trail season starts in early October, when the most famous, the Enchanted Forest opens in Pitlochry. You’ll find other fantastic light shows in the botanical gardens in Edinburgh and Glasgow, at Edinburgh Castle and Edinburgh Zoo, and smaller shows across the country.
This guide covers each one with 2026 dates, ticket prices and booking links, along with the practical information that’s harder to find: parking, the Enchanted Forest shuttle bus, accessibility, and which trails suit young children best.
The Enchanted Forest, Pitlochry
8 October – 8 November 2026, daily
Scotland’s original sound-and-light show, and this year is its 25th anniversary. Faskally Wood is transformed with light, colour and original music, with the trail reflected in Loch Dunmore.
The trail is roughly 1.25 miles in a figure-of-eight and takes 60 to 90 minutes at a normal pace. Around 80,000 people come every year.
- Tickets: enchantedforest.org.uk. Timed entry.
- Prices: Ticket prices vary depending on the day and time. Peak times are Friday, Saturday and Sundays. Off-Peak times are midweek, Monday – Thursday, with departure time after 7.45pm offering lowest priced tickets.
Getting there: there is no on-site parking. A shuttle bus is included in every ticket and departs from Fishers Hotel on Atholl Road, a short walk from Pitlochry station. Park in the town’s public car parks, Rie-Achan Road or Ferry Road, where street parking is free in the evening. ScotRail runs direct from Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Accessibility: buggies are fine, with room in the coach hold and suitable forest paths. Autism-friendly sessions run at the start of the evening with reduced capacity and lower sound. On-site disabled parking is reserved for wheelchair users only; check Euan’s Guide for gradients before booking.
Book early. Capacity is set by the number of bus seats, and most nights sell out in advance. Once the buses are full there is no other way in.
GlasGLOW, Glasgow Botanic Gardens
23 October – 1 November 2026
Scotland’s biggest light show, and a Halloween event rather than a festive one — it finishes before the Christmas trails begin. The 2026 show is Zombie Zoo – the world’s first state-of-the-art zombie containment and conservation facility. Marshmallowland, street food and the Glow Bar all return.
- Tickets: through itison.
- Getting there: walkable from Hyndland or Partick stations, or the subway to Hillhead.
- Best for: teenagers, groups and anyone who finds the festive trails twee.
More in my guide to Halloween in Scotland
Edinburgh Zoo’s Giant Lanterns
13 November 2026 – 21 February 2027
The award-winning outdoor lantern trail runs for 60 nights with an all-new space safari theme — giant illuminated creatures through the zoo after hours. The longest season of any Scottish trail by a distance, so it’s the one to choose if you want lights in January or February rather than December.
- Tickets: edinburghzoo.org.uk. From £14.
- Getting there: Bus from Haymarket, stop at the zoo.
- Best for: children under ten.
Christmas at the Botanics, Edinburgh
19 November – 30 December 2026
The 10th anniversary of Edinburgh’s festive trail. A mile-long route through the Royal Botanic Garden after dark, with the Christmas Cathedral and Fire Garden returning alongside new features for 2026 – a glowing Light Sphere, twinkling Fireflies and a Laser Garden. Flat paths throughout.
- Tickets: rbge.org.uk. Timed entry.
- Prices: From £26. Off-peak pricing is available on selected evenings, reduced family tickets exist, and members get £3 off a single adult ticket. Adult only nights available.
- Getting there: a 30-minute walk from Waverley, or buses from the city centre. Book your ticket based on whether you are arriving by bus or car as they have separate gates.
- Accessibility: relaxed sessions at 4pm on Sunday 29 November and Wednesdays 2 and 9 December – smaller capacity, starting at twilight so the transition into darkness is gentler.
Castle of Light, Edinburgh Castle
2026 dates to be confirmed
Now in its seventh season. Rather than a garden walk, this is projection mapping across the castle’s walls and ramparts, with installations and storytelling through the grounds and the Great Hall, and fire pits, street food and drinks on the esplanade.
It runs on selected evenings, mainly Fridays and Saturdays, so check the calendar before planning around it.
- Tickets: TBC via edinburghcastle.scot. Timed entry.
- Prices: Around £24 adult, £15 child, family tickets available. Timed entry slots run from 4.30pm to 7.45pm, and the full trail takes about an hour.
- Getting there: walk up from Waverley or Princes Street. No parking at the castle.
- Accessibility: it’s a castle, so cobbles, slopes and steps. Less buggy-friendly than the Botanics.
Ancient Forest Twi-LIGHTS, Carrbridge
2026 dates to be confirmed
A one-kilometre trail through ancient Caledonian pinewood, lit with thousands of lights and sound effects. The highlight is the Red Squirrel Trail, a treetop walkway that climbs eight metres into the forest canopy so you can look down on the illuminated woodland below. There’s also a UV light tunnel, a laser show through the trees, and fire pits for toasting marshmallows.
It’s also one of the most accessible trails in Scotland: the route is pram and wheelchair friendly, and well-behaved dogs are welcome.
- Book: tickets will be avaliable through landmarkpark.co.uk
- Getting there: Carrbridge, 10 minutes north of Aviemore off the A9. Carrbridge station is on the Inverness line.
- Worth knowing: there’s a self-serve UV face-painting station at the café, so bring something fluorescent to wear. Part of the trail has a sound installation.
Christmas at Crathes, Aberdeenshire
18th December – 23rd December 2026
The National Trust for Scotland lights up the walled garden and woodland at Crathes Castle, alongside a food market, gift market, Santa’s grotto and children’s activities.
- Book: nts.org.uk
- Getting there: off the A93 between Banchory and Aberdeen, about 30 minutes from Aberdeen, with parking on site.
Brechin Castle, Angus
2026 dates to be confirmed
An illuminated trail around a 70-acre country park, with optical illusions, festive scenes and lit-up trees. What sets it apart is that the rest of the park is lit too, so the giant maze, the sledge run, the crazy golf and the zip slides all stay open after dark. Hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows at the fire pits by the coffee shop.
- Book: brechincastlecentre.co.uk
- Getting there: just off the A90 at Brechin, between Dundee and Aberdeen.
- Best for: children who’d rather be doing something than walking and looking.
Starry Nights at Dean Castle, Kilmarnock
2026 dates to be confirmed
Ayrshire’s light trail, set around the 14th-century Dean Castle. Installations include the Starry Tunnel, the Fenwick Fairies and Candy Cane Lane, with the Grinch making mischief along the way. There are also Cocktails and Carols evenings for grown-ups.
Starry Nights at Beecraigs, West Lothian
2026 dates to be confirmed
A festive illuminated trail through Beecraigs Country Park with the chance to meet Santa, plus entertainers – elves, stilt walkers and the Grinch. Parking is limited and has to be booked separately.
Five Sisters Zoo Illuminations, West Calder
2026 dates to be confirmed
The zoo’s after-dark illuminated trail, and a smaller, quieter alternative to the Edinburgh trails half an hour away.
Brodie Illuminated, Moray
2026 dates still to be confirmed
The National Trust for Scotland illuminates the grounds around Brodie Castle. Smaller and quieter than the Edinburgh trails, and the only trail of its kind in the north-east.
- Tickets: nts.org.uk.
- Getting there: on-site parking at Brodie Castle, off the A96 between Forres and Nairn.
Ullapool Winter Lights and Creel Tree Switch-on
27 November 2026 · West Shore Street · free
Ullapool’s festive switch-on, where the village Christmas tree is built from stacked lobster creels. Live music, mulled wine and a community welcome to winter. No tickets needed.
Spectra, Aberdeen
TBC February 2027 · city centre · free
Aberdeen’s free festival of light takes over the city centre’s streets, squares and landmarks for four nights with large-scale illuminated installations, projections and interactive artworks from local, national and international artists. 2027 dates to be confirmed; 2026 ran 5 to 8 February.
Which one to book
- The best of them: the Enchanted Forest. Different league, and worth the drive to Pitlochry.
- The prettiest festive trail: Christmas at the Botanics.
- Best setting: Castle of Light, because you get Edinburgh Castle after dark as well as the show.
- Best for under-tens: Edinburgh Zoo’s Giant Lanterns.
- Best for teenagers: GlasGLOW.
- If you want lights after Christmas: Edinburgh Zoo, which runs to 21 February, or Spectra in Aberdeen.
- If you don’t want to pay: Ullapool in November, Spectra in February.
- If you hate crowds: Brodie Illuminated, or a relaxed session at the Botanics.
What to know before you go
- They are all outdoors. Proper coat, hat, gloves and waterproof shoes. Trails take 45 minutes to an hour and a half, much of it standing still.
- Tickets must be pre-booked for all the ticketed trails. None take walk-ups.
- Check which evenings. Castle of Light runs mainly Fridays and Saturdays, not nightly.
- Timed entry means what it says. Arrive within your slot or you may not get in.
- Book early evening with young children. It is dark by 4.30pm in December anyway, and the first slots are quieter.
- Prices rise as dates approach at the Enchanted Forest and some others, so booking early is cheaper as well as safer.
- Food on site is good but expensive. A flask in the car is cheaper.
Light trails in Scotland FAQs
What light trails are on in Scotland in 2026?
The Enchanted Forest at Pitlochry runs 8 October to 8 November, GlasGLOW in Glasgow 23 October to 1 November, Edinburgh Zoo’s Giant Lanterns 13 November to 21 February, Christmas at the Botanics 19 November to 30 December, and Castle of Light at Edinburgh Castle 21 November to 4 January. Brodie Illuminated in Moray runs selected November evenings, and Spectra in Aberdeen is free each February.
How much do light trails cost in Scotland?
⚠ [Complete once verified.] Enchanted Forest tickets start at around £23 for adults and £13 for children aged 3 to 15, with family tickets for two adults and two children under 16 at around £65. Under-3s and carers go free. Prices rise closer to the event dates.
Is there parking at the Enchanted Forest?
No. There is no on-site parking at Faskally Wood. Every ticket includes a shuttle bus from Fishers Hotel on Atholl Road in Pitlochry, a short walk from the station. Park in the town’s public car parks at Rie-Achan Road or Ferry Road, where street parking is free in the evening. On-site disabled parking is reserved for wheelchair users only.
Are there free light trails in Scotland?
Yes. Spectra in Aberdeen is a free festival of light across the city centre each February, and Ullapool’s Winter Lights and Creel Tree switch-on on 27 November is free, with a Christmas tree built from stacked lobster creels.
When should I book light trails in Scotland?
As soon as tickets go on sale. Enchanted Forest tickets went on general sale on 19 June 2026 and most nights sell out, because capacity is limited by shuttle bus seats. Christmas at the Botanics also sells out, and weekend slots go first everywhere.
How long does a light trail take?
Between 45 minutes and an hour and a half. The Enchanted Forest trail is about 1.25 miles and takes 60 to 90 minutes.
Which light trail is best for toddlers?
Edinburgh Zoo’s Giant Lanterns, with giant illuminated creatures and a space safari theme for 2026. Christmas at the Botanics is the most buggy-friendly underfoot, and its relaxed sessions at twilight suit anyone who finds crowds or sudden darkness difficult. The Enchanted Forest paths take buggies and the coaches have room in the hold.
Is GlasGLOW a Christmas light trail?
No. GlasGLOW is a Halloween event running 23 October to 1 November 2026 at Glasgow Botanic Gardens, and it finishes before the festive trails begin.
Are there light trails in the Highlands?
Yes. Ancient Forest Twi-LIGHTS at Landmark Forest Adventure Park in Carrbridge, near Aviemore, runs through a kilometre of ancient pinewood with a treetop walkway eight metres into the canopy, a UV tunnel and a laser show. It is pram and wheelchair friendly and dogs are welcome. Brodie Illuminated at Brodie Castle in Moray runs on selected November evenings, and Ullapool has a free Creel Tree switch-on on 27 November.
Which light trails in Scotland are dog-friendly?
Ancient Forest Twi-LIGHTS at Landmark Forest Adventure Park in Carrbridge welcomes well-behaved dogs, and the trail is also pram and wheelchair friendly. Check with each venue before you go, as most light trails don’t allow dogs.
Been to one of these? Tell me which, and whether it was worth it.
Love from, Scotland x
Read more:
- Find every Scotland event in 2026/2027 in my events calendar – filter by Lightshows
- All the events taking place on Halloween in Scotland
- Coming soon – all the bonfire night and fireworks displays in 2026
- Coming soon – things to do with kids at Christmas
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