Skiing in Scotland
Discussion
I can only speak for Aviemore/Cairn Gorm, however...
-The button lifts are lethal, 0-20mph instantly with the inevitable piles of kids and newbies.
-It can get ridiculously windy...leaning into the wind on runs and lifts is a whole new experience. Be prepared for massive sheets of blue ice with the snow blown off.
-Don't get your skis serviced, you are bound to hit rocks
-Wear a lid...huge rocks on the pistes
-The car park gets silly busy
-The road can sometimes be lethal. I've been going down it, crawling in tickover in1st gear on sheet ice, and ended up with the wheels turning at 10mph, but with the car moving faster than the turning wheels. Very scary indeed.
-Yellow goggles are your friend
-It's very surreal, and does have a great atmosphere. And sometimes, it really can deliver, had some amazing days up there. However unless you are really local, it's a lot of effort, and not that much cheaper than a small Alpine resort deal. My advice would be to get some mates together, hire a lodge with a hot tub, and go with an open mind for a winter break, and if you get a few days of decent skiing in that's a bonus.
-The chilli sauce shop in town is ace!
-The button lifts are lethal, 0-20mph instantly with the inevitable piles of kids and newbies.
-It can get ridiculously windy...leaning into the wind on runs and lifts is a whole new experience. Be prepared for massive sheets of blue ice with the snow blown off.
-Don't get your skis serviced, you are bound to hit rocks
-Wear a lid...huge rocks on the pistes
-The car park gets silly busy
-The road can sometimes be lethal. I've been going down it, crawling in tickover in1st gear on sheet ice, and ended up with the wheels turning at 10mph, but with the car moving faster than the turning wheels. Very scary indeed.
-Yellow goggles are your friend
-It's very surreal, and does have a great atmosphere. And sometimes, it really can deliver, had some amazing days up there. However unless you are really local, it's a lot of effort, and not that much cheaper than a small Alpine resort deal. My advice would be to get some mates together, hire a lodge with a hot tub, and go with an open mind for a winter break, and if you get a few days of decent skiing in that's a bonus.
-The chilli sauce shop in town is ace!
benjj said:
I'm in North Yorkshire.
265 miles to Glenshee. Reckon about 5.5hrs with a stop for food and a piss.
Done this several times, Fort William, Glencoe, Aviemore & Glenshee all have their good and bad points 265 miles to Glenshee. Reckon about 5.5hrs with a stop for food and a piss.
Out of all of them I think Aviemore is most reliable for snow and there are a few bars and restaurants in town to choose from. Fort William is more of a fun drive and gives you the choice of 2 ranges though. At either place it's worth hiring kit away from the slopes to save time if busy, there are a few choices.I managed a drive time of 4.5 hours from Wakefield to Aviemore last March with an early start. Don't think I touched the brakes more than 4 or 5 times the whole journey! This was the result:
scotland is an awesome place to ski/board, but you need to be able to pick and choose when you go.
weather can be very changeable, think bluebird skies, snowing heavily, 100mph wind, rain, mist/fog........ all in the same day (or even hour!) but when it goes good, it rivals anything else.
I'm fortunate i can go north if things are looking promising. makes for a great day out. but would never plan ahead by anything more than a couple of days.
for anything you need to know about scotland skiing, conditions, webcam links, people posting daily reports of how its holding up- www.winterhighland.info is the best source for any info!
weather can be very changeable, think bluebird skies, snowing heavily, 100mph wind, rain, mist/fog........ all in the same day (or even hour!) but when it goes good, it rivals anything else.
I'm fortunate i can go north if things are looking promising. makes for a great day out. but would never plan ahead by anything more than a couple of days.
for anything you need to know about scotland skiing, conditions, webcam links, people posting daily reports of how its holding up- www.winterhighland.info is the best source for any info!
2014 will mark my 50th year skiing in Scotland...I started young 
On a good day it can be great; on a bad day it's the pits. Years ago the snow was a lot more predictable and as a kid the first week of the Easter holidays was always decent snow and blue-sky days. Not so any more. You might get decent snow any time between late November (not this year though) and it can last into May and beyond...or it can all disappear pretty much overnight any time...indeed if it comes at all. A day or two of warm temperatures, rain and strong winds can (and does) kill the runs at any time. But the snow can also come back late season too - so who knows?
You need to be prepared to go at the drop-of-a-hat to get the best conditions, and that can easily be mid-week. This was a day last year at Glenshee - fresh tracks and 'ski anywhere' on Glas Maol:
As other have said, you cannot pick a date and expect there to be snow there.
The runs don't have the length of most decent resorts in Europe or North America, but there's some nice runs and some good variety if you know where to look. I can be actually skiing (at Glenshee) in under 2 hours from leaving home so it makes sense as a 'local' hill. Maybe 1/2 an hour more for Cairngorm or Glencoe, or an hour more for Nevis Range so I pick and choose based on the snow/weather. Not sure if I'd come to Scotland for a ski holiday any more though.
For a time in the 70s and early 80s Cairngorm really seemed to be going somewhere with new lifts being installed, and the Aviemore Centre was on the up. Fond memories of the Badenoch, the Winky, Cynthias Disco. Ahhh...a mis-spent youth! But half the lifts have been de-commissioned now, or cut down, or left to rot...and from once being the jewel in the Scottish skiing crown, Cairngown is pretty poor these days. Lets not get started on the Funicular... But if you want to stay in a town with a bit of life, relatively close to a ski area then really Aviemore/Cairngorm is about it.
While Cairngorn has steadily got worse year-on-year, Glenshee has got better. I really like it now and not just because it's closest to me, it would be my area of choice. But the only towns with accommodation nearby are Blairgowrie or Braemar. Braemar is far far nicer (but smaller), but neither are going to set the heather alight.
There's nothing near Glencoe apart from the on-side hobbit-huts. Glencoe is the most 'primitive' of the areas I'd say; also the smallest, but with some challenging runs. Some of the die-hards love it. Personally I've never really liked it much (although I accept there are some good runs). Maybe the memories of slogging across half a mile of peat bog with skis as a kid before they put in the link from the top of the chair to the ski hill.
I do like Nevis Range, but Fort William isn't up to much - often said it's the ugliest town in the prettiest location on the planet. Maybe not the ugliest or prettiest...but not far off. Really good skiing and the back corries are mighty impressive. But in all the times since I've been going there since it opened there have been very few days with a really good cover on both the front and back of the mountain with everything open. Great potential, but the weather is rarely kind to it.
And I have to say I've never been to The Lecht. Not much point really as it's the furthest away and shorter vertical than any of the closer areas.
I like skiing in Scotland - it seems kind of 'honest' compared to loads of other places. Folks go up on the hills to ski; not to be seen, have long liquid lunches, sit in the sun or generally ponce about as is the norm in loads of the proper 'resorts'. But then again, I'm probably old and grumpy now.
And for the other old folks on here...this would be me on the White Lady at Cairngorm I guess around 1971?
And in Corrie na Ciste in I guess around 1975 before they put the lifts in (now long since closed and left to rot). It was always quiet as there was no uplift and you had to get someone to pick you up after you hiked out at the bottom. Perfect parallels on 205s
On a good day it can be great; on a bad day it's the pits. Years ago the snow was a lot more predictable and as a kid the first week of the Easter holidays was always decent snow and blue-sky days. Not so any more. You might get decent snow any time between late November (not this year though) and it can last into May and beyond...or it can all disappear pretty much overnight any time...indeed if it comes at all. A day or two of warm temperatures, rain and strong winds can (and does) kill the runs at any time. But the snow can also come back late season too - so who knows?
You need to be prepared to go at the drop-of-a-hat to get the best conditions, and that can easily be mid-week. This was a day last year at Glenshee - fresh tracks and 'ski anywhere' on Glas Maol:
As other have said, you cannot pick a date and expect there to be snow there.
The runs don't have the length of most decent resorts in Europe or North America, but there's some nice runs and some good variety if you know where to look. I can be actually skiing (at Glenshee) in under 2 hours from leaving home so it makes sense as a 'local' hill. Maybe 1/2 an hour more for Cairngorm or Glencoe, or an hour more for Nevis Range so I pick and choose based on the snow/weather. Not sure if I'd come to Scotland for a ski holiday any more though.
For a time in the 70s and early 80s Cairngorm really seemed to be going somewhere with new lifts being installed, and the Aviemore Centre was on the up. Fond memories of the Badenoch, the Winky, Cynthias Disco. Ahhh...a mis-spent youth! But half the lifts have been de-commissioned now, or cut down, or left to rot...and from once being the jewel in the Scottish skiing crown, Cairngown is pretty poor these days. Lets not get started on the Funicular... But if you want to stay in a town with a bit of life, relatively close to a ski area then really Aviemore/Cairngorm is about it.
While Cairngorn has steadily got worse year-on-year, Glenshee has got better. I really like it now and not just because it's closest to me, it would be my area of choice. But the only towns with accommodation nearby are Blairgowrie or Braemar. Braemar is far far nicer (but smaller), but neither are going to set the heather alight.
There's nothing near Glencoe apart from the on-side hobbit-huts. Glencoe is the most 'primitive' of the areas I'd say; also the smallest, but with some challenging runs. Some of the die-hards love it. Personally I've never really liked it much (although I accept there are some good runs). Maybe the memories of slogging across half a mile of peat bog with skis as a kid before they put in the link from the top of the chair to the ski hill.
I do like Nevis Range, but Fort William isn't up to much - often said it's the ugliest town in the prettiest location on the planet. Maybe not the ugliest or prettiest...but not far off. Really good skiing and the back corries are mighty impressive. But in all the times since I've been going there since it opened there have been very few days with a really good cover on both the front and back of the mountain with everything open. Great potential, but the weather is rarely kind to it.
And I have to say I've never been to The Lecht. Not much point really as it's the furthest away and shorter vertical than any of the closer areas.
I like skiing in Scotland - it seems kind of 'honest' compared to loads of other places. Folks go up on the hills to ski; not to be seen, have long liquid lunches, sit in the sun or generally ponce about as is the norm in loads of the proper 'resorts'. But then again, I'm probably old and grumpy now.
And for the other old folks on here...this would be me on the White Lady at Cairngorm I guess around 1971?
And in Corrie na Ciste in I guess around 1975 before they put the lifts in (now long since closed and left to rot). It was always quiet as there was no uplift and you had to get someone to pick you up after you hiked out at the bottom. Perfect parallels on 205s
Edited by tvrolet on Tuesday 23 December 08:34
Glencoe is lovely and friendly.
For accommodation in addition to the hobbit huts there is the Kings House, 4 or 5 miles away the Clachaig (brilliant walkers and climbers hotel and pub) and a little further away the Isles of Glencoe and Ballachulish Hotel. I stay In the area a lot as a landscape photographer, the Isles of Glencoe is very good value, I've just stayed for £49 a night bed breakfast evening meal in an upgraded loch view room with a bottle of wine a night. Can't say fairer than that!
For accommodation in addition to the hobbit huts there is the Kings House, 4 or 5 miles away the Clachaig (brilliant walkers and climbers hotel and pub) and a little further away the Isles of Glencoe and Ballachulish Hotel. I stay In the area a lot as a landscape photographer, the Isles of Glencoe is very good value, I've just stayed for £49 a night bed breakfast evening meal in an upgraded loch view room with a bottle of wine a night. Can't say fairer than that!
tvrolet said:
2014 will mark my 50th year skiing in Scotland...I started young
Bloody hell - when I typed this first time round I said 40 years. Seemed a long time but felt right. It's just struck me it's been 50 years! Must be senility kicking in. First shotty on a pair of skis would have been in 1964/5. 50 years ago. 
Fifty bloody years ago. God I feel old now 
still there's life in the old dog left I guess. Off to Morzine in Feb and Lake Tahoe for the end of the season. Usually sneak in a few more US days on the back of business trips too, and of course Scotland 
deckster said:
For anybody still unconvinced...or those who are currently sat in the Alps looking at a bare mountain...this was the Back Corries at Nevis Range this week. Not my photo - pinched from the NR Facebook page - but looks like cracking early season conditions :
Nice pic but I'd wager he had to hike to get to it though! I was hoping to head up to either Nevis or Glencoe between Christmas and New Year but not looking like it's worth it yet. It looks like it could get colder so with some more snow there's still a chance.Bump.
We have been discussing skiing in Scotland, driving and staying somewhere in the motorhome (fairly soon).
However after reading about the unpredictability and sheer freezing temperatures it doesn't sound that pleasant but I am sure like anywhere its down to the timing and a bit of luck.
Any suggestions appreciated.
We have been discussing skiing in Scotland, driving and staying somewhere in the motorhome (fairly soon).
However after reading about the unpredictability and sheer freezing temperatures it doesn't sound that pleasant but I am sure like anywhere its down to the timing and a bit of luck.
Any suggestions appreciated.
wow that was a bit of a thread bump! but anyway here goes.......
taking a campervan is a great way to get the best out of the conditions, you can basically turn up to the resort that has the best conditions on the day/weekend and make the most of it. staying at the ski hill will mean you can be on first/ last lifts, miss most of the queues and have a blast. you certainly wont be the only one crashing in the car park of any of the ski centres, but do prepare for the cold! I'll quickly run down a bit about each resort:
nevis range- as the name suggests its next to ben nevis! just passed fort William way out on the west coast. it has a gondola for access up to the ski area so you go quite high to access the snow. not a huge variety of pistes/ runs on the front side of the mountain, but if off piste is your thing then you need to get reading up on 'the back corries'. never dropped in, but on my 'to-do' list for skiing in Scotland! not sure my skills are up to it yet. you could stay in the car park at nevis, its massive, but you also have fort William 5mins down the road for food/ amenities if need be.
Glen coe- still on the west coast, more inland, you would drive past this one to get to nevis! it actually has a camp site area/ hobbit huts for renting throughout the year. the on-site bar/café is open till 9/10pm (I think!) in winter so you can have some beers/ food and not just be stuck shivering in the back of the van. glencoe is a small ski hill, very old school lifts, quite rugged terrain. good mix of beginner slopes all the way up to advanced. they have a black run called 'fly paper' closed a lot because of avalanche risk, but its ridiculously steep! ski hill usually has a good vibe, pretty relaxed and people just out to have fun. not un-common to see people having a go in jeans/ council issue hi-vis waterproofs, but they will be having as much fun as anyone.
glenshee- biggest ski area of all the centres in Scotland. lots of runs, biggest mix of runs, def has the feel of a foreign ski area, you can travel around and pick which hill/valley your going to ski in. again loads of space for camping in the car park. don't know when they close the café etc... but the café is nice and serves decent food.
lecht- great facilities, lovely little café/ centre that you can sit in and watch the slopes. limited runs though, basically a road through the middle of the centre, runs up each hill and off to the side. amazing for kids/ beginners as you are always so close to the centre for breaks/ snacks/ warmth. will feel limited if you are an intermediate and want to do more. but def the best options for beginners as its usually the quietest. of and easily the furthest away if you are travelling from the central /south Scotland up to the north.
aviemore- the only place where most people think you can ski in Scotland. my least favourite place, never really had a good day there. always the busiest place too, as everyone thinks this is their only option. they have a lot of support from the Scottish government so has the best facilities/ cafes/ train up the mountain, but they are scaling back the skiing area/ lifts and focusing more and more on the tourist cake hunters. and for that reason alone I'd take my money elsewhere in Scotland, to the other resorts that are putting huge efforts in (glencoe and glenshee invested in the new lifts!)
all in all I'd rank glencoe/ glenshee as my number 1 choice, then nevis, then the lecht and wouldn't waste my time with aviemore. as for conditions- www.winterhighland.info is the only place you need to check out. there are forums and daily updates from skiers telling it how it is on the slopes. people upload pictures of conditions and give good reports of what the slopes are doing. if you need more detailed info on the camping stick a post up on the forum over there and someone will be able to help you out!
taking a campervan is a great way to get the best out of the conditions, you can basically turn up to the resort that has the best conditions on the day/weekend and make the most of it. staying at the ski hill will mean you can be on first/ last lifts, miss most of the queues and have a blast. you certainly wont be the only one crashing in the car park of any of the ski centres, but do prepare for the cold! I'll quickly run down a bit about each resort:
nevis range- as the name suggests its next to ben nevis! just passed fort William way out on the west coast. it has a gondola for access up to the ski area so you go quite high to access the snow. not a huge variety of pistes/ runs on the front side of the mountain, but if off piste is your thing then you need to get reading up on 'the back corries'. never dropped in, but on my 'to-do' list for skiing in Scotland! not sure my skills are up to it yet. you could stay in the car park at nevis, its massive, but you also have fort William 5mins down the road for food/ amenities if need be.
Glen coe- still on the west coast, more inland, you would drive past this one to get to nevis! it actually has a camp site area/ hobbit huts for renting throughout the year. the on-site bar/café is open till 9/10pm (I think!) in winter so you can have some beers/ food and not just be stuck shivering in the back of the van. glencoe is a small ski hill, very old school lifts, quite rugged terrain. good mix of beginner slopes all the way up to advanced. they have a black run called 'fly paper' closed a lot because of avalanche risk, but its ridiculously steep! ski hill usually has a good vibe, pretty relaxed and people just out to have fun. not un-common to see people having a go in jeans/ council issue hi-vis waterproofs, but they will be having as much fun as anyone.
glenshee- biggest ski area of all the centres in Scotland. lots of runs, biggest mix of runs, def has the feel of a foreign ski area, you can travel around and pick which hill/valley your going to ski in. again loads of space for camping in the car park. don't know when they close the café etc... but the café is nice and serves decent food.
lecht- great facilities, lovely little café/ centre that you can sit in and watch the slopes. limited runs though, basically a road through the middle of the centre, runs up each hill and off to the side. amazing for kids/ beginners as you are always so close to the centre for breaks/ snacks/ warmth. will feel limited if you are an intermediate and want to do more. but def the best options for beginners as its usually the quietest. of and easily the furthest away if you are travelling from the central /south Scotland up to the north.
aviemore- the only place where most people think you can ski in Scotland. my least favourite place, never really had a good day there. always the busiest place too, as everyone thinks this is their only option. they have a lot of support from the Scottish government so has the best facilities/ cafes/ train up the mountain, but they are scaling back the skiing area/ lifts and focusing more and more on the tourist cake hunters. and for that reason alone I'd take my money elsewhere in Scotland, to the other resorts that are putting huge efforts in (glencoe and glenshee invested in the new lifts!)
all in all I'd rank glencoe/ glenshee as my number 1 choice, then nevis, then the lecht and wouldn't waste my time with aviemore. as for conditions- www.winterhighland.info is the only place you need to check out. there are forums and daily updates from skiers telling it how it is on the slopes. people upload pictures of conditions and give good reports of what the slopes are doing. if you need more detailed info on the camping stick a post up on the forum over there and someone will be able to help you out!
My Hymer Motorhome is armed & loaded, ready to roll for a trip as soon as the weather looks promising. Hopefully the coming weekend onwards. I'll drive up from Dorset 
Last year I got 3 seperate trips to Glencoe/Glenshee & out of 9 days got 5 or 6 bluebird days in
& one real Scottish ski day to remind myself just how bad it can get!
Follow the weather & a motorhome is perfect for this, Glencoe has hookup for electric etc & the bar is great.
Last year I got 3 seperate trips to Glencoe/Glenshee & out of 9 days got 5 or 6 bluebird days in
& one real Scottish ski day to remind myself just how bad it can get! Follow the weather & a motorhome is perfect for this, Glencoe has hookup for electric etc & the bar is great.
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