Anyone ever skied bonnie Scotland?

[mark69sheer]

There's snow at aviemore now!!
Have a ski trip already booked abroad March 1st but a friend has suggested we fit in a weekend in Bonny Scotland before if we can.
He suggests driving up (Harrogate). and staying three days.
Any suggestions or tips please.
places to stay near the slopes. best price for three people likely Friday out Sunday back.
likely costs..

thanks..

[ALawson]

I haven't but I don't think there is that much snow up there!

http://www.snow-forecast.com/maps/dynamic/scotland

[mark69sheer]

http://www.winterhighland.info/testcam/

There's some there now but was thinking late November.early December trip.

[Stang]

Staying in Aviemore is nice. However if you are wanting to have nights out drinking then you "might" be better staying in Inverness. That way you are in the city but only 40mins drive to the slopes.

[mark69sheer]

Stang said:

Staying in Aviemore is nice. However if you are wanting to have nights out drinking then you "might" be better staying in Inverness. That way you are in the city but only 40mins drive to the slopes.

Just the basics really not that bothered about nights out when skiing. Never really found the fabled apres ski yet. Val Thorens was about as close as it ever gets. Italy apres ski virtually non existant.

[renmure]

You really need to take time off work to get good skiing in the Cairngorms. If the snow is great and its a weekend then its mobbed and you spend longer in a queue than on the slops. If its a weekday trip then its less busy and can be good.

[rhinochopig]

I was in Aviemore In Jan doing some mountaineering/climbing. Despite being covered from head to foot in Goretex gear, walking from the the car to the ski centre resulted in us getting soaked.

The second day a chap was blown off the top of Sneachta and killed, and as we were making our way back down the corrie, our guide was was picked up by a gust of wind and flung to the ground - the wind was measured at 100mph+ that day. If you get good weather (rare) it's great, otherwise it can be really really miserable. Expensive to - you could get a last minute deal somewhere abroad cheaper TBH.

[emicen]

Stay at the McDonald Highland Resort if you want everything right infront of you. Good food and leisure facilities and ten minutes drive from the hill.

Aviemore has snow right now, was getting told about it last weekend, there was snow covering the dryslope at Coylumbridge.

If you want to hire equipment, Outdoor Discovery (based in the grounds of the Hilton) are good and they have good deals on buying gear as well.

[Nevin]

Look here instead for info. Looks like The Lecht is opening this weekend

http://ski.visitscotland.com/conditions/lecht/

I'd say only really worth it if you can drive up in a day (i.e. from Edinburgh, woohoo) and head home in the evening. There are no resorts of note near any of the ski areas (and before anyone says that isn't true, Aviemore and Fort William are hardly hubs of exciting nightlife and daytime activity).

Don't go at the weekend though if you can avoid it. Every ski area in Scotland is absolutely mobbed any weekend when the snow is good. Skiving off work on weekdays is much better

Edited by Nevin on Thursday 30th October 10:28

[DOOG]

I have.. In the early 90's...

Had some great days, and some not so great... and some terrible..

Glencoe was the best terrain.. But was prone to closing due to high winds..

Aonach Mor (sic) was usually ok-ish..

My only experience of Aviemore was getting to the top, (cant remember the name of the run/lift) and the wind being so strong, any forward motion was almost impossible... And then it started to rain....

Keep an open mind and if the weathers good enjoy..

If you are expecting it to be like your last trip to the Alps, you will be disappointed.

[mechsympathy]

If you're more than a couple of hours away don't bother IMO. If you're very lucky conditions will be bearable but then it'll even more rammed.

[Nobby Diesel]

I have never tried skiing inb Scotland, but I was once told "if you want to put someone off skiing, take them to Scotland"

I'm sure that if there is sufficient snow and blue skies, it would be wonderful though!

[onlynik]

Have you decided where you want to go?

We noemally go to Glenshee, just beside Braemar, IRRC, it is Scotlans biggest 'resort'

The Lecht is also close by and can be fun.



You can find some details here.

There are B&Bs in Braemar and Ballater, too

Edited by onlynik on Thursday 30th October 11:38

[mgv8dave]

I know a girl in Scotland called Bonnie she loves bending her knees

[anonymous-user]

Last I heard the skiing around Glen Coe was so hit and miss a couple of the ski lifts had gone bust and lie mostly derelict. Seriously.

[Nevin]

Crossflow Kid said:

Last I heard the skiing around Glen Coe was so hit and miss a couple of the ski lifts had gone bust and lie mostly derelict. Seriously.

http://www.glencoemountain.com/v1/

Was bought out of administration a couple of years ago if I recall. Needs to really offer a lot more in the way of summer activities if it is to survive, which to be fair it seems to be doing. Its also relatively small and isolated as the Scottish Centres go.

[Semi hemi]

ALawson said:

I haven't but I don't think there is that much snow up there!

http://www.snow-forecast.com/maps/dynamic/scotland

No, not much snow here pal, Shh every fecker will want o come,, This was taken on Cairngorm yesterday !



Seriously though, last season I skied Glencoe, Aonach Mhor, Cairngorm and Glenshee, I was still skiing on Cairngorm well into April.. the late season was one of the best for years with the 'Gorm and Aonach operating into May

the resorts
Glenshee
covers the largest area, sort of wee 'trois vallee' but also furthest east so can be dodgy weather wise.

Aonach Mhor/Nevis Range,
Highest newest with a Gondola and a quad chair plus tows and pomas fair eats up the punters.

Glencoe.
Great location... but showing its age now it does tend to get the best snow ,year in year out and has the longest run in Scotland also they limit No,s on the hill to reduce lift queues.

Cairngorm.
Funecular railway up the hill then chairs T bar and Poma tows

Lecht, smallest but does tend to hold the snow when others have lost it.


If you planned on coming up for a w/e try and make it a long one to benifet from quiet Fri or Mon also be flexible to go to the centre with the best conditions. and if the weather does let you down there is plenty other things to do.. Distilleries are a good diversion

Edited by Semi hemi on Thursday 30th October 11:39

[Semi hemi]

Nevin said:

Crossflow Kid said:

Last I heard the skiing around Glen Coe was so hit and miss a couple of the ski lifts had gone bust and lie mostly derelict. Seriously.

http://www.glencoemountain.com/v1/

Was bought out of administration a couple of years ago if I recall. Needs to really offer a lot more in the way of summer activities if it is to survive, which to be fair it seems to be doing. Its also relatively small and isolated as the Scottish Centres go.

Sure it was Glenshee that bought them over and planning revamp of lift & tows.. also sorting out Downhill Mountain bike track under the chair lift al la Nevis,

Also not too Isolated, last winter me & G/F stayed in glencoe skied the Coe next day drive 40 mins and were at Aonach Mhor.
I quite fancy having a Ski on each centre over a weekend.. you could prob do all in a day if you pulled your finger out..

[schmokin1]

Semi hemi is right on.

Best to be opportunistic and go when you know there is snow. I have had some legendary trips to Lecht and Glenshee when our party had powder runs all to ourselves and other trips when it was icy and windy as hell!

[Chris71]

Depends where you are I guess.

I've always fancied skiing in Scotland, but I live in London and I could get to the alps just as quickly to be honest.

A mate did go up there early this year (January I think) and said the snow was very good. It was during a white-out though.