Winter solstice skywatching guide - best sites in UK and what to look for

With the dark nights now upon us and winter solstice coming up (21st December), I thought I'd compile a proper guide for skywatching during the season when conditions are actually ideal for spotting UAPs. The long darkness hours mean more observation time, and meteorological patterns are often more stable than summer turbulence.

Best UK locations: Scottish Highlands (Cairngorms area offers minimal light pollution), Dartmoor (excellent sightlines, historically active), Bodmin Moor, Pennine uplands north of Manchester. Rural Yorkshire Moors are solid too but need clear weather.

Equipment: You don't need much - binoculars (decent 10x50 Celestron, around £80-120) and a red torch to preserve night vision. Smartphone tripod mount is essential for recording. Dress warmly. You'll be stationary for hours and December temperatures drop fast after sunset.

What to monitor: Unusual light patterns, movements that violate known aircraft behaviour, formations that appear/disappear rapidly, any colour shifts (green, amber, or unusual white are worth noting). Track weather conditions and cross-reference with astronomical calendars.

Has anyone else done winter solstice skywatching campaigns? Would be keen to hear about setups and findings from previous seasons.

Cairngorms recommendation is solid. I've done three winter watches up there and the seeing conditions are consistently excellent. Clear air, minimal aircraft traffic on that particular flight corridor, and dark skies for miles. Only issue is access in heavy snow - some roads close from December onwards. Best to go early December before weather gets properly nasty.

The red torch thing is crucial and loads of beginners forget it. White light destroys your night vision for 20-30 minutes minimum. Decent red LEDs are cheap - I got mine from Poundland for £2.50 and it works perfectly. Green is also acceptable but red is standard for astronomy work.

You don't need much - binoculars (decent 10x50 Celestron, around £80-120) and a red torch to preserve night vision.

Any recommendations for recording equipment? I've got basic binoculars but rubbish at capturing anything on mobile. Is there a decent smartphone mount that won't break the bank? Ideally something stable enough for long exposure video.

A word of caution: winter solstice sees increased military training exercises. RAF and US bases ramp up operations during this period (historically, anyway). Not saying that explains everything you'll see, but it's worth factoring in. Check FlightRadar24 simultaneously to log what civilian traffic is passing overhead.

Planning a proper solstice watch on Bodmin starting 19th December through the 23rd. Anyone in the Southwest wanting to coordinate? More observers spread across the area means better coverage and cross-referencing of sightings. Strength in numbers and all that.