 Poster: A snowHead
|
Hi,
I was looking at going away to mainland Europe for a few nights before xmas for some skiing, but I am not having a lot of luck with timings around work/flights etc and ski buddies. Flights are available from Bristol to Inverness for Weds/Sun next week and I am now thinkiing about a trip to Scotland instead.
I am working on the assumption that snow conditions will still be ok, but I don't know about local travel infrastructure and how easy it would be to get to and from the airport using local transport. Is Inverness airport even open?
Can anyone give any insight on the viability of such a trip?
Thanks in advance,
Nick
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Shouldn't be a particular problem to be honest, there are buses and taxis into Inverness then you can get a train up to Aviemore. Will you be on your own or with a group? If the latter then it's probably worth considering taking a taxi to Inverness rather than busing it, if on your own a bus would obviously be cheaper.
Snow should be fine, there's tons of it at the moment and temps will be back down low next week after a briief milder blip Friday/Saturday.
Have you booked accomodation yet?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
Last time I did it I hired a small car. Might be worth adding up the cost of taxi, train then busses up the mountain.
But there were two of us which make a difference.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
I'm on my own at the minute, so it will be probably most economical to use public transport rather than car hire. I am twisting my friends arm to join me, so a car may be best if he decides to come.
No accomodation has been booked yet; I'm a bit of a last minute merchant, and accomodation will typically be the last of the pieces to slot into place!!
Thanks for the advice!!
Nick
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
I went by train last year to stay in Aviemore for a week which included New year. There was no problems with the train service, Perth to inverness, it was one of the few lines without major problems. The problems I had was getting to the mountain, most days the bus did not operate. This was mainly down to cars stuck on the road on the way to Cairngorm. I was left to hitch as it was the only way up. I think conditions are very similar this year.
One of the things that amazed me is that the chairlift company had their section of the road in perfect condition but the council road was a disaster. The chairlift company had offered to clear the road all the way to Aveimore but were not allowed. I heard on the news that this is happening all over the UK. Farmers offering to help clear roads only to be refused. Local government is run by complete idiots!!!
If you find shared accommodation then hopefully someone there will have space in their car, otherwise don't bother waiting for the bus just hitch.
Have a great time
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Things are progressing slowly..........it looks like I may be heading up on my own on Wednesday afternoon/evening from Bristol and will be aiming to stay in Aviemore at the Youth Hostel for 4 nights.
Can anyone let me know what I may be letting myself in for accomodation wise?? It is certainly cheap enough but is it well located for the centre of Aviemore and also for the bus to Cairngorm?
Nick
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
IIRC :
as you enter aviemore from the south there's a roundabout where you can go straight on (into aviemore) or right (through rothiemurchus and up to the ski area). To your left is the italian place (the high range motel I think?. The "town centre" is 2 minutes walk from there and you pass the YHA as you walk.
There is another YHA some 3 mile further down the ski road.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
Hi, I stayed at the youth hostel last weekend, and I really liked the place, most of the hostellers were either skiers or boarders so we all got on well together. The place was clean, the showers hot and had a really good drying room.
The hostel is about 5 minutes walk along the main road from the train station and the village centre. Buses were running last w/e from Aviemore to the ski carpark.
I would check with the hostel about a place as if the skiing is good it will soon get booked up.
A tip, take cash to buy your lift ticket as you can get this from a different window with a much smaller queue, also in the morning if there is a massive queue for the train to the top of the mountain, you can take two poma tows to the top of the mountain 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
n1ckster, as has been said above the Aviemore youth hostel is very comfortable indeed, don't think you'll have any probs there and it's good for all the ameneties too
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Correct me if im wrong but I beleive you can buy lift passes from the ski hire shop below the Skiing Doo restaraunt the night before ,saves a lot of time waiting once you get up the hill.
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
|
I think that's still the case but probs worth checking up on that, there used to be another outlet by the station too but I forget where to be honest and not sure if it was available last season.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Right....flights will be booked tonight to Inverness, 3 nights at the Aviemore Youth Hostel, 2 days skiing at Cairngorm and then home by train on Saturday!!
The next problem is where has all the cold weather and snow gone???!!!??? Will it be back by the end of next week?
Nick
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
What are conditions like at the moment?? Have I put the kybosh on the decent snow by booking my trip 'early'??!!??
Nick
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
n1ckster, have been in aviemore this weekend - soft but very nice snow yesterday and boilerplate today (with a wee bit of fresh on top) but with lots of snow forecast later this week and very cold temps we're looking at some awesome conditions coming up I think and that base is well set up now 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Is there much off piste skiing round Aviemore (but still using the lifts) for people who don't know the area?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
Hopefully they might start doing that again, especially now they've got hold of a new plough.
