 Poster: A snowHead
|
Am staying nr Edinburgh between Christmas and New Year and hoping (conditions dependent) to have a day's ski-ing. Never been ski-ing in Scotland before so need some help please on:
- best ski area to head for based upon starting point of Edinburgh
- best time to arrive (I assume as early as possible!)
- ways too beat the queues assuming its busy....
- ski hire suggestions
- anything else of help!
Thx
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
@wopple, will you have the use of a car?
If not, I think that probably means Cairngorm (Aviemore station) or Aonach Mor. There are also Citylink buses to both places but no idea if any public transport to Glens Shee or Coe.
As early as possible.
Be polite, respect the queuing system.
There used to be ski hire at the Cairngorm base lodge.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
| Quote: |
ways too beat the queues assuming its busy....
|
avoid weekends
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
maybe go at sparrow's on New Year's Day. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
As above, Aviemore and Nevis Range are easiest to get to by public transport.
Right now, all Scottish ski resorts are closed, due to lack of snow. You'll need to keep an eye on conditions, as they may struggle to open before January.
When they do open, it is worth going. Great scenery and surprisingly good skiing (for a long weekend).
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
Depends on what happens with the weather but generally the Western areas and the Lecht have fewer queues (Lecht by repute I have not skied there). Folow Winter Highland to see what's open.
If the areas don't open you get quite good views at Hillend over Edinburgh, it ain't snow but good fun for a couple of hours.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@wopple, If you are planning to drive were you aware that the Forth Road Bridge is closed for repairs at the moment and there is a diversion over the Kincardine bridge. Visited my son who lives on the outskirts of Edinburgh on Sunday and we preferred to travel Perth to Stirling on the A9 then the M9 to Edinburgh, it only took us 15 minutes longer each way but could be more in heavier traffic.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
If the weather changes and we get good snow, expect it to be very, very busy and frustrating.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
I have just come across a beginner's guide to skiing in Scotland that I produced last season for a workmate. Easy enough to cut and paste here  . Ignore the fact that they were travelling up from Stockton!
The Ski Areas
1. Cairngorm, near Aviemore - 300 miles from Stockton. Big area, lots of lifts. Excellent for beginners, especially with full snow cover. Also has very reliable snow on the beginners area at the top of the mountain. Funicular railway runs from bottom to top of the mountain so easy access. Can be very busy on weekends – with bad queues for tickets, equipment hire (best to hire in Aviemore) and for the funicular. May need to arrive very early.
2. Glenshee, 45 miles north of Perth - 225 miles from Stockton. Snow cover not as reliable as Cairngorm in recent years but excellent big area. Good for beginners.
3. The Lecht - 40 miles north of Glenshee. Regarded as a families/beginners ski area but has some decent skiing. The smallest Scottish ski area.
4. Glencoe, 75 miles north of Glasgow - 265 miles from Norton. Facilities on the mountain a bit basic and rustic (skiing like it was 50 years ago…). Fantastic scenery. Excellent for beginners if the Plateau area has snow cover, otherwise can be a bit limited. Some challenging slopes for intermediates upwards. Nice base area café.
5. Nevis Range - near Fort William, 35 miles north of Glencoe. Access by gondola. Extensive area in full snow cover, with excellent beginners slopes. Otherwise a bit limited for beginners. Very extensive for internediates upwards.
NB. All areas are worth a visit - all are very different to each other. Cairngorm and Glenshee are the biggest areas and usually the busiest. Weekends can have queues for the lifts, especially if the weather is nice and the snow is good. It's usually bearable though.
Nevis Range in particular, is hardly ever very busy, as it is furthest from the main Scottish population centres.
Cairngorm has the most reliable snow cover, often with skiing from November/December until May (or at least late April) being common. Glencoe often has a late season too - often stays open until May Day Bank Holiday weekend.
Lift Tickets & Equipment Hire
Lift tickets are about £25-34 per day. All ski areas have equipment hire available, which can be booked online in advance and which can get very busy on weekends. Or you can hire equipment away from the slopes - eg in Aviemore for Cairngorm; in Fort William for Nevis Range or Glencoe; or at a couple of roadside places between Blairgowrie and the slopes for Glenshee.
Organising a Trip
The big issue is the weather - you can have great snow and weather one day and then storms that close the ski areas the next. Wind, in particular, is the problem. The UK's highest wind speed of nearly 200mph was recorded at the summit of Cairngorm Mountain....When the weather plays ball it’s brilliant but when it’s bad it can be totally atrocious.
The key thing to do is to play it by ear, pencil in a visit and then book digs a day or two before you go, once the forecast is ok. As a guide, we've found that max wind speed for enjoyable skiing is about 30mph - anything above is a miserable experience and is best avoided. We’ve ignored the forecast a few times and hoped for the best, which can make you wish you hadn’t bothered. We endured 55mph winds once - scary, as sudden gusts at that speed can blow you over.
Accommodation
Glencoe is the only area with accommodation at the slopes - but this is very basic ie camping (which was free in winter 2014/15 while snowsports were operating) or ‘hobbit houses’, which are basic wooden pods (sleeping 4), advertised as ‘camping without a tent.’
You will always get digs fairly near to the the skiing at Hotels.com, Booking.com or Laterooms.com - or you can drive part way up the night before and get cheap Travelodges/hotels at places like Perth, Glasgow/Dumbarton or Pitlochry.
Nearest towns/villages are:
For Cairngorm: Aviemore (15 mins drive); Newtonmore (25 mins), Kingussie (20 mins).
Glenshee: Perth (45 mins); Blairgowrie (30 mins).
Glencoe: Arrochar (30 mins); Crianlarich (20 mins); Tyndrum (15 mins); Ballachulish/Onich (25 mins); Glencoe Village (20 mins).
Lecht: Tomintoul; Braemar; Ballater (all 25-30 mins).
Nevis Range: Fort William (10 mins); Spean Bridge (10 mins); Roybridge (15 mins); Onich 25 mins; Ballachulish; 30 mins.
We go to Cairngorm a lot (it's a great area with a long season) so can recommend the following tried and tested hotels. If you're not after somewhere too posh, all of the following are clean and comfortable enough. All prices are B&B per double room:
Newtonmore and Kingussie - Neighbouring villages about 30 mins drive from the slopes: Highlander Hotel (£50-55); Balavil Hotel (£55-60). Both are fine but are older places catering for Tinsel and Turkey-type coach trips (fine by us!). Or Glen Hotel (£60); Arden House B&B (£65).
Aviemore - 15 mins from the slopes: Starters Hotel and Restaurant (£50-70); High Range Motel (£50 - Room only). Both modern - Starters is really nice. We've also stayed at Hilton Coylumbridge , which is very posh. Got a great deal at Hotels.com for £90/room, half board midweek. The restaurant and food were excellent. Also: Vermont Bed and Breakfast - (not bookable online but has a website). Comfy B&B/friendly owner - £60/double. Very handy because it's in Aviemore.
Perth - Approx. 90 mins from the slopes at Cairngorm , Nevis Range and Glencoe and about an hour from Glenshee. Good place to stay on the way up the night before. There are 2 or 3 Travelodges from £29, depending on when you book. Some nice restaurants in Perth, which is a pleasant town for a night out. We have also stayed at the Best Western Queens Hotel (£45-60) and The Skylodge at Perth Airport - very cheap (about £45 B&B). It's fantastic value, with a lovely pub/restaurant next door.
Pitlochry - 60 mins from Cairngorm. Assorted B&Bs and hotels available.
Failing the above, B&Bs/hotels are bookable online at Visitscotland website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Agree that with the Scottish ski centres you need to get the most up to date information. If there is decent snow cover, Glenshee is brilliant - lots of uplift (new chair going in as we speak) means that when well covered the resort can absorb many thousands; Cairngorm often has a bottleneck getting to the car parks and then another long queue waiting for the funicular. Also, Glenshee can cope with rising winds quite well, as there are both East and West facing slopes, so you can usually get some shelter on one side or the other.
OK I am a fan but I'm not paid by Glenshee!
Roads: A9 can get snow problems at Drumochter on the way to Aviemore; A93 gets snow problems on the last ten miles on the way to Glenshee generally. Listen to road reports.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
Good summaries @mountainaddict, although not sure about "lots of lifts" any more for Cairngorm 
Braemar is a good base for Glenshee, as the road up to the ski centre from the northern side is less affected by drifting snow. Also reasonably handy for accessing the Lecht.
Stirling can also make sense as a base for a (few-days) trip - it's not close to any particular ski centre, but it's vaguely central to all of them while also having plenty to do locally if the weather's not conducive to skiing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
hi all - thanks for the info- not sure with the weather forecast at the moment that there seems much likelihood of actually making it there :-0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Quote: |
Glencoe is the only area with accommodation at the slopes - but this is very basic ie camping (which was free in winter 2014/15 while snowsports were operating) or ‘hobbit houses’, which are basic wooden pods (sleeping 4), advertised as ‘camping without a tent.’
|
Probably not of any use to the OP but there are also a limited number of electric hookups for campervans/motorhomes at Glencoe and Glenshee.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| wopple wrote: |
| hi all - thanks for the info- not sure with the weather forecast at the moment that there seems much likelihood of actually making it there :-0 |
Watched the BBC Weather for the Week Ahead programme last night and I'd say you are spot-on.
To add to what has been said above: if you are near Edinburgh then Glenshee would have been the best option. I live 25 miles East/South-East of Edinburgh and I can easily do Glenshee as a day trip. The others are that bit further and make it a very long day.
If going to Glenshee then they have ski hire or you can stop off at Bridge of Cally and hire there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
