Glencoe or Aviemore for skiing?

[A.J.M]

A mate and I are looking to do a couple of days skiing at the end of this month.
Both if us are competent skiers so looking to see what would be the better place to go for a few days.

Costs are pretty similar for both, I've skied in Aviemore years ago but never been to glencoe.

So, given the choice, what one would you go to?

[scotty_d]

I prefer Avimore, we are heading up there at the end of the month for some boarding.

[r1chie]

Aviemore is much nicer in my opinion, and I think a slightly larger ski area. has always been more sheltered when I've been there and better snow conditions than Glencoe

[750turbo]

If it rains any more you will be water skiing!

Sorry.

<Depressed of Scotland>

[OlberJ]

Aviemore is more of a skier's place, Glencoe for boarders IMO.

Much prefer playing in the gulley/bowl at Glencoe personally.

We ended up at Glenshee on Sunday because everywhere else was shut. It was wild

[Technomad]

Don't worry about the rain so far - the snowline at Glencoe is just above the car park and they're having to dig the rescue hut out on a daily basis. Most snow ever (or at least since the late 70s). Cairngorm's pretty much the same. The problem with the season has been high winds (even more so than usual), so It's best to always have a plan b - either to head for one of the other ski areas or do summat else entirely. I live about 40 minutes from Glencoe so don't need to set off before about 9:30am, at which point we usually know if they're going to be open or not. Aviemore has by far the largest range of skiing; Glencoe has short runs but some interesting terrain; Nevis range is also excellent - the most wide open skiing of any of the Scottish areas; Lecht is more for beginners and emergency backup when everything else is shut down and Glenshee offers a fair variety, although it's been ages since I skied there.

[Who me ?]

There's always Aonach Mor at Fort William, but given FW reputation, it might be the wet sort of snow,

[JoyZipper]

Technomad said:

Don't worry about the rain so far - the snowline at Glencoe is just above the car park and they're having to dig the rescue hut out on a daily basis. Most snow ever (or at least since the late 70s). Cairngorm's pretty much the same. The problem with the season has been high winds (even more so than usual), so It's best to always have a plan b - either to head for one of the other ski areas or do summat else entirely. I live about 40 minutes from Glencoe so don't need to set off before about 9:30am, at which point we usually know if they're going to be open or not. Aviemore has by far the largest range of skiing; Glencoe has short runs but some interesting terrain; Nevis range is also excellent - the most wide open skiing of any of the Scottish areas; Lecht is more for beginners and emergency backup when everything else is shut down and Glenshee offers a fair variety, although it's been ages since I skied there.

This is spot on. We were up in Aviemore last weekend and although there's a huge amount of snow on the hills it was way too windy on Cairngorm to ski. We went to the Lecht on both Saturday and Sunday, Saturday was pretty brutal with bad visibility and high winds coming right up the valley, but Sunday was perfect with clear blue skies and little wind as the direction had changed to a southerly and most runs were on the lee slope.

[A.J.M]

So there is plenty of snow to fall about into.

Have done a couple of snow boarding lessons but that was a good few years ago so skis it is.

Will try Aviemore then but it's good there are back up plan areas if it's too wild for skiing.

[Rusty1]

I like nevis range!
Glencoe is closer but its depressing going there after being abroad,
nevis has runs that feel more like the continent whilst the coe has more of a feel of just snow dumped and no real runs.

What drives me nuts is lift pass costs, it costs the same for a day on coe as it does for a day at some resorts abroad!

With the amount of snow that's come down, very tempting to go somewhere on tuesday!

[Who me ?]

Rusty -wait till the snow gates on Glencoe are shut and use the road free of charge.