 Poster: A snowHead
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The season's nearly over, and I'm thinking about getting a last couple of days on snow.
I was looking at the Scottish resorts, of which the Nevis Range seems to be in reasonable shape at the mo.
Has anyone got any advice on how to get there (from London), where to stay ... and I guess, most importantly, is it worth the journey?
My first idea was to grab a plane to Glasgow or Inverness, and train it to Fort William ... am I on the right track here?
Alternatively, is there a decent tour operator/travel agent specialising in Scottish resorts that anyone can recommend, that could do the leg-work for me (the lazy option is usually my favoured route).
Cheers
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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jonflat2,
Checkout the thread on piste "Why not ski Scotland?" There are a few enthusiasts on here. I would think Cairngorm might be a safer bet though.
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brian
brian
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jonflat2, it's the school easter holidays here, so you might find things a bit busy. There are (or at least were) sleepers running from London to Fort William and Aviemore. Might be less hassle than flights and train. Glasgow has no airport rail link, so that's a pain for a start.
Plenty of good skiing to be had if you can get any decent weather.
Check out www.winterhighland.com for recent reports and pics.
www.mwis.org.uk for mountain weather forecasts. (Nevis is covered by "West Highlands").
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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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Personally I prefer Nevis to Cairngorm - no snow fences - exciting back-bowl...(assuming there is enough snow to traverse out)
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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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jonflat2, You can also fly to Aberdeen and Inverness, but flights are limited. Car hire should be available though.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Sleeper to fort william would be the most convenient way. There are often some quite good prices available that will almost certainly be competitive with air once all the transfer/parking prices are included. Trains leave about 9.30 from Euston, but you can pick them up at Watford if it's more convenient.
Wouldn't advise the cheapest (reclining seats) option though, unless you sleep particularly well. There's a shuttle bus from Fort William to the slopes.
Having said all that, you can leave London a couple of hours earlier and arrive at 8.30 the next morning in Bourg St Maurice. Would cost < £150 for transport and there are hotels and food in BSM which will be as cheap as Fort William and (arguably!) better. There are some quite good back bowls in Les Arcs I hear....
d
***edit*** Just seen that there's a 'why not ski in Scotland' thread, so apologies for that last para (but I'll leave it in anyway !)
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becos of that article i just read on the home page on the recent snowfall in scotland i am now seriously looking at it for an easter ski weekend, however have no idea of the fiddly practicalities - car hire is not an option as none of my friends can drive (and i get car sick), and i've been told that not only are there no flights near scottish slopes, but no actual ski resorts, just nearby accomodation, and no specific transfer buses from there to the lifts, as no official affilliation between these b & bs and the slopes. Is this true?? So what do people who ski in scotland DO then? How do they get up there if they live in London, where do they stay, how do they commute to the clopes, etc?
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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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| Ridha wrote: |
| becos of that article i just read on the home page on the recent snowfall in scotland i am now seriously looking at it for an easter ski weekend, however have no idea of the fiddly practicalities - car hire is not an option as none of my friends can drive (and i get car sick), and i've been told that not only are there no flights near scottish slopes, but no actual ski resorts, just nearby accomodation, and no specific transfer buses from there to the lifts, as no official affilliation between these b & bs and the slopes. Is this true?? So what do people who ski in scotland DO then? How do they get up there if they live in London, where do they stay, how do they commute to the clopes, etc? |
Well nobody seems to have answered your question so I'll give it a go 
In the east Inverness is the nearest airport to Cairngorm and The Lecht, and Glenshee is doable from there too although Aberdeen might be a better option for Glenshee but others would have to advise you on that. In the west Glasgow I think would be you best option but again I have no experience of getting to Glencoe and Nevis fom there so I can't advise and given that I'll stick to advice on Cairngorm.
Aviemore is the usual base for skiing at Cairngorm, it's just a few miles away and there are shuttle buses up to the slopes from there or you can hitch up which is surprisingly easy but if you get car sick on even short journeys perhaps not an option, so the first thing you want to do is find accomodation in Aviemore or on the ski road from Aviemore (Coylumbridge, Glenmore etc.). There are usually plenty of options from the local youth hostel to b&b and hotel accomodation of all types.
Getting there is pretty easy to be honest once you're in Inverness or you could consider getting an overnight train or sleeper up because they stop at Aviemore which has a train station right in the centre. Flight wise Easyjet and probably others fly from various airports in the south to Inverness Airport and then you'd have to get a bus ot taxi into Inverness. From there you can either head to the train station or the bus station, they're both close to each other. Most trains heading south from Inverness will stop at Aviemore and it's a very short hop away.
You can check timetables online and get other information from the Ski Scotland website here and from there just follow the links or do a google search for other information. You'll find dedicated Scottish skiers on the winterhighland website here which has a forum where you can ask any further detailed questions you may have and check out the latest photos from the Scottish mountains there too.
Yup, give it a go because the conditions are fantastic at the moment - ironically I'm going to France this Easter but for all that some of the best days skiing I've ever had have been in Scotland and this year is turning out to be one of the best late seasons ever so not to be missed if you can help it!
Enjoy 
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Tue 11-04-06 12:13; edited 1 time in total
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| roga wrote: |
In the east Inverness is the nearest airport to Cairngorm and The Lecht, and Glenshee is doable from there too although Aberdeen might be a better option for Glenshee but others would have to advise you on that. In the west Glasgow I think would be you best option but again I have no experience of getting to Glencoe and Nevis fom there so I can't advise and given that I'll stick to advice on Cairngorm.
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I doubt you can get to Glencoe easily unless you hire a car. There are trains and coaches to Fort William though where you can then go onto Nevis. The trouble with flying into Glasgow though is that there is no airlink into the centre. You'd need to take a coach. Prestwick has a train station outside where you can pick up a train to Glasgow. It looks like there is only one train a day to Fort William.
If you can't take the sleeper from the south, then the absolute best option for the West is flying then hiring a car. Frankly though, if you get car sick you will not enjoy taking the A82, especially where it follows the shores of Loch Lomond. I think it's a lovely drive, but that road tends to terrify my wife. 
In terms of timings from Glasgow Airport, Glencoe is around 2hrs. Nevis is another half hour from there (you go past Glencoe to get to Nevis if driving). Glenshee is also easily doable from Glasgow Airport in 2 and a bit hours. It's also motorway and good A roads for all the but the last 30-40 miles. However add another half hour onto those timings if going from Prestwick.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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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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Noticed on the SCUK (snowboard) forum that there's a few people planning a trip up to Scotland at the weekend after 'epic' conditions over the last few days.
Seems a bit quieter here though on that score - are English skiers all too namby pamby and wedded to the Alps to give it a go? 
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SCUK also reports that The Scotsman is predicting a bit of a rush north this w/e. I'm heading up with a few mates for some late season action, who knows there may even be some pow left to ride!
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You know it makes sense.
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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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Have a great time guys
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Poster: A snowHead
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Did anyone go up?
How was it?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Blimey - nobody?
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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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roga,
Checkout brian's thread in reports section. Photos will blow you away!!
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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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Cheers johnboy those photos certainly are superb - nice!
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