 Poster: A snowHead
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So just found this on the internet, i have never boarded anywhere in the UK other than indoor slopes, and came across glenshee which the website makes it look really good for the UK.
Has anyone ever been? whats it like and how hard is it to get to?
Alos where are the best places to go in UK, im considering doing something in the UK this year for a weekend and wondered if its worth it, wheres the best.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I was wondering about skiing in Scotland in the new year and got several very informative replies to my post http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=104217&highlight=
Hope there's some useful stuff for you in there.
It seemed to boil down to don't book anything more than a few days in advance so you can be more certain about snow cover and weather conditions.
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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?
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I'll be heading up to Glencoe for new year, if there's not enough snow, I'll take the walking boots 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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thanks for this, Daisham just what i wanted, probably should have searched before posting 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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The four Scottish sites have webcam facilities although the cam views do not cover the entire skiing areas.
I only ski but prefer Glenshee for its ease of access onto the hill and extensive ski area although the centre itself is a bit remote from civilisation.
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all these pictures look fantasic, but are these only when there has been a big dump and do these type condtions dissapear quickly?
Im thinking i have the last weekend in Jan to do something with, i know if i go to the alps, im pretty much guaranteed snow, but if i plan for UK could i turn up and there is no snow at all?
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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.
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| big davski wrote: |
| The four Scottish sites have webcam facilities although the cam views do not cover the entire skiing areas. |
Of course, there are 5 Scottish ski areas, not including Braehead - they are Glenshee, the Lecht, Cairngorm, Nevis Range and Glencoe.
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It is the chance you take coming to Scotland for snowsports. It could be just as the photos above appear.
However, it also might be blowing 80mph and all the lifts be shut (regardless of how much snow is on the ground). Or it might have snowed so heavily on the Friday you arrive, it takes the area operators 24 - 36 hours to dig out the lifts and get them running again. Or there may have been a fortnights wet, windy and mild conditions and the hills be entirely green.
If you want a snow guarantee in Scotland then the only place you will get it is at Snowfactor at Braehead 
Come to Scotland for a weekend with the 'hope' that it might involve some snowsports and you will probably be OK. However, you should anticipate that you might have to go hillwalking, mountain biking, wildlife spotting, whisky tasting instead.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Yellow Pyranha, oops ,why did I forget Lecht?? as I've been there loads of times. Old age racing in.
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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.
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big davski, I wasn't sure which one you were discounting! I still had to count them on my fingers before I posted.
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Well the Lecht is the least interesting (unless you are a beginner).
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You know it makes sense.
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Usually I have to plan my visits well ahead (I live in London and have a wife who doesn't like me shooting off unexpectedly to do even more skiing!) but I have only once not skied - I walked with my wife instead. (I could have but there was almost no skiable snow in the West - just a small area at the top). On the other hand I had a very good weekend skiing there in mid May this year.
There is now a book on the Nevis area off-piste - very little of it easy - if you are up to that sort of thing (you haven't said what sort of skiing you like).
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Fri 13-12-13 16:02; edited 1 time in total
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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My first experience on skis was at Glenshee, although it was so busy at the main area we had to drive a mile down the road and ski off the side of the hill there. I say ski, but what I mean was one turn, fall, one turn, fall, and so on. After years of watching ski sunday I was so disappointed.
However the following week we went up to the Nevis Range and it just clicked, and I ended going up there most weekends for the next 5 months.
Therefore after an early hiccup, I have very fond memories of skiing in Scotland.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Just looked at the webcams and it doesn't seem very inviting.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Yeah i did notice these but very off putting by the distict lack of snow, even the photos on the website, that should be promoting the area show people skiing with grass coming through everywhere.
Anyone been to these, use them?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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When we first started doing lads ski trips back in the mid 90s we would do a long weekend at either Glenshee (stayed in Braemar) and Cairngorm (stayed in Aviemore). Great weekends and great skiing.
Now we are allowed to go to the Alps I have done the odd day in Glencoe over the years.
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kitenski, there are Five English ski areas in my list :
Weardale Ski Club - has two button lifts. http://www.skiweardale.com/
(has a carpark, but up a snow covered single track road! Not been there yet)
Alendale Ski Club - has two rope tows. http://www.ski-allenheads.co.uk/index.htm
(park in Village, ski on field, I spent a very nice day there a few years ago)
Just above Alenheads town.
Yad Moss- Has a button lift AND piste basher. http://www.yadmoss.co.uk/
(Park on road(dig your space) and short walk up.)
Just southeast of Alston.
Raise : Lake District Ski Club - has a button lift. http://www.ldscsnowski.co.uk/index.html
( Allow a good 1 hour to walk up the mountain. Not been there yet, but I have walked up Helvelyn mountain which is very near)
Up a mountain above Glenridding in the lake district.
Harwood - it has a rope tow. http://harwoodski.webs.com/
(park on the road, walk up a bit, not been there yet)
A mile or so along the road from Yad Moss.
This was shot on the 1st April 2013 at Yad Moss - the skier at the end is me
http://vimeo.com/68696546
I don't get up there much, but the 2 days I did in April were the among the best skiing experiences I have ever had. There is something stripped back and elemental about these areas - no pampering, bring your own lunch, dig your own parking space. Wonderful.
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Alas It seems Harwood is no more. Only one I haven't made it to yet is Allenheads. I've had a great time at all of them. Raise is quite a trek from the carpark. Weardale has the most interesting skiing possibly. But also the most interesting road access (winter tyres at least required). I'm sure I've written something about all the Scottish areas. I'll do a search. Never get bored of skiing at Glencoe or Nevis. Awesome views and runs when in condition.
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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.
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Shame about harwood.
Learnt to ski there when I was 4 in '79. They had 2 tows at that time and we had to join Glaxo ski club to use the hill.
Still remember hanging onto the rope as it carried me off the ground as I was too short!!!! Skied there every winter until 1982 untill we moved to ballachulish about 10 mins from glencoe. Skied there every weekend it was open until I moved away at 17. No luxurys like there is now. Will never forget the walk across the plateau .........though still some of the best skiing I've ever had on occasion and that's after doing 7 seasons.
Was always told by French friends ... If you can ski in scotland you can ski anywhere 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| thestoney6 wrote: |
Yeah i did notice these but very off putting by the distict lack of snow, even the photos on the website, that should be promoting the area show people skiing with grass coming through everywhere.
Anyone been to these, use them? |
Yadmoss is a fantastic place to ski, but you have to remember that its a club and run completely by volunteers and not like any of the commercial ski hills.
When conditions are good its stunning, but the queues can get pretty epic (members only days and or limited day tickets help a lot to reduce them to manageable levels ). The pictures on the website show the place how it is, grass and all. But in truth it takes very little snow to get operational thanks to the hand maintained pistes (what commercial resort can claim that ! ) and great efforts of the 1 man piste basher team.
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Sat 14-12-13 22:25; edited 1 time in total
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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.
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Stoney, you have to grab the conditions when they come. Usually the snow doesn't hang around although we have had some very good skiing over the last 4 years. Last year yad moss managed 30 days and raise 60 but you have to remember this is England not the Alps. We shouldn't really be skiing at all......or making wine for that matter 
Since the skiing takes place on grass there are no rocks so not much snow is needed. Just a sense of humour an imagination and some good reactions.
We had two days skiing last month but doesn't look like anything on the horizon this side of Christmas.
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You know it makes sense.
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The OH is just driving back from Aviemore and says the roads are white as far as the Dava and it's still snowing hard. "It's beginning to look a lot like christmas"
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