 Poster: A snowHead
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Hey
I might be at uni in Aberdeen from next september - the only reason I applied was because of the skiing (priorities ;D)! I was hoping for some info on what to expect - how long's the season, how often is there enough snow to ski, what are the resorts like where they are, etc. Any thing would be helpful as I know absolutely nothing about the Scottish resorts apart from rumours!!
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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There are 5 ski areas in Scotland:
In the east
Cairngorm (near Aviemore)
Glenshee
The Lecht
In the west
Glencoe
Nevis range
The eastern ski areas are the easiest to get to from Aberdeen.
Take a look at the Scotland 07/08 thread for a run-down of what's been going on this season, great early season snow in January with very good conditions all over but the best at Glenshee, not much snow in Feb and Glenshee and The Lecht petering out but the others continuing to offer okay conditions, then massive dumps into March in the West with stunning powder days available in the west, particularly at Glencoe.
Hopefully that's a fair summation but others will be able to give you their take on it. Also have a look at Winterhighland (the best website for details of conditions and discussion of Scottish snowsports) and Highland Instinct for great background info.
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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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As has often been said in other threads you really have to go when conditions allow. Much of the time the skiing is extremely restricted or almost non existant, and often wind blasted snow. But it can be great (though if you are used to the Alps the areas are very small).
Personally I like Nevis best (largely because of the back-bowl) but tiny Glencoe not far away has bags of character. You can even tour much of the time, if you like the idea.
Here is the Snowheads Scottish get together and Ski Tests thread - sceduled for the weekend after next.
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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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Kool cheers guys. Is there much to offer in the way of back-country and offpiste routes? From looking at piste maps only the Nevis region had any marked routes...
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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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clarky999,
Aberdeen Uni used to have a ski club. I did Agriculture at Aberdeen circa 1996. Great University. What are you thinking of doing?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Bsc Geography. Yeah they still do have a ski club - and ski whenever it snows. It's just I've heard that (apart from this season) it doesn't snow very much... Could well be rumours, and anyway, it's the only chance I've got for real snow skiing in the UK!
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By the way Clarky 999, where do you normally ski? Will you be comparing Scotland with Utah or Colorado??!!
There is decent skiing EVERY YEAR in Scotland!! Last season (2006/07) there was skiing from November to April. Season starts vary but in most years you can ski through to May.
Best by far info site is Winterhighland - for reports, pics and weather forecasts. Have a look at the following link to their photo galleries. It'll show you that - as good as this season is - it's by no means exceptional.
http://www.winterhighland.info/2006/pix/pixalbum.php?pix_id=436
The above shows Cairngorm Mountain (ie Aviemore skiing) from this week. Scroll to the bottom of the page to view other years.
Golden rule - as you've probably gathered by now - is you can't plan too far ahead. You just have to watch the forecast and - when it's good - just go for it.
Re. off piste: this year we skied the amazing off-piste stuff down to car park level at Glencoe - amazing!!
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Well I usually ski in the Austrian Alps (this year Ischgl and Westendorf (nextdoor to kitzbuhel, and better ;D). I don't really expect Scotland to compete with the Alps - but everything you've said sounds really encouraging!! I'm really looking forward to it now - previously I've only ever managed two weeks of skiing a year, so being close enough to ski whenever it snows will be awesome!!
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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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Meant to say earlier:
There is a website dedicated to Glencoe - which is a bit of a cult resort for lovers of Scottish skiing (it's very basic in terms of lift infrastructure and facilities - eg don't expect piste markers (very interesting in a whiteout!) or nicely groomed pistes but it's undeveloped and uncommercialised feel just makes it great!) - a proper old fashioned skiers' resort.
The website (Haggistrap) has an off piste section - which shows some great routes:
http://www.haggistrap.co.uk/glencoeoff/glencoeoff.html
You'll have some great skiing in Scotland. When conditions are great it's incredible. When they're bad (gale force winds, whiteouts and driving snow stripping the skin from your face) it's......character building!! And remember: a bad day on the mountain is still better than a good day in the office (or lecture theatre in your case)!!
Now champing at the bit - and planning a trip to Glencoe or Nevis Range this weekend!!
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There are flights from my local airport to Aberdeen, but I have NEVER seen any short-notice packages offered to take advantage of good skiing conditions in Scotland. Seems like someone's missing out on some business there.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I am told Scottish skiers can be recognised by the chips of granite in their P-Tex.
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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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| Butterfly wrote: |
| There are flights from my local airport to Aberdeen, but I have NEVER seen any short-notice packages offered to take advantage of good skiing conditions in Scotland. Seems like someone's missing out on some business there. |
I just grabbed flights up to Glasgow from Bristol for Easter weekend for just over £80 return so not too bad even this close to the flight date. Another £75 on top for 4 days car hire so I can hit either Nevis or Glencoe whilst there.
| snowball wrote: |
| I am told Scottish skiers can be recognised by the chips of granite in their P-Tex. |
LOL, at the moment they can be recogised by the big grins on their faces and their being covered in powder snow 
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clarky999,
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It's just I've heard that (apart from this season) it doesn't snow very much... Could well be rumours, and anyway, it's the only chance I've got for real snow skiing in the UK!
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Its rubbish, for the east coast resorts this year hasn't been brilliant so far (though its not been bad), we've had better season in the last 10 years. We had a very good year 05/06 season though the snow came late. There was decent skiing from late February onwards, with the last lift served day at Cairngorm on the 7th May and my last days skiing on 24th June (see http://www.winterhighland.info/2006/pix/pixalbum.php?pix_id=256). West coast has been much better recently this year. Since I came up to Aberdeen 11 years ago I've averaged 15 days of scottish skiing per season (mainly at weekends) and my best season (05/06) was 27 days. Have a look at the pix from the slopes at winterhighland and that will give you an idea of the conditions at the different resorts over the last 10 years or so.
There are plenty of off piste and touring routes. For some info on some of the classic steep routes at Cairngorm have a look here: http://www.highland-instinct.co.uk/freeride/guide/index.php particular the coires out with the ski area.
Looking at the snow conditions at the moment I expect that there will be skiable snow in Scotland well into June, particularly at Nevis and Coe, but you'll probably have to walk for it. I expect I'll be able to do some skiing on the snow fields over the back at Cairngorm well into May, but again I'll probably have to walk for it.
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You know it makes sense.
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| roga wrote: |
I just grabbed flights up to Glasgow from Bristol for Easter weekend for just over £80 return so not too bad even this close to the flight date. Another £75 on top for 4 days car hire so I can hit either Nevis or Glencoe whilst there.
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£250 min for here for up Fri & back Sunday from what I can see 
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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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| Dave Horsley wrote: |
There are plenty of off piste and touring routes. For some info on some of the classic steep routes at Cairngorm have a look here: http://www.highland-instinct.co.uk/freeride/guide/index.php particular the coires out with the ski area.
Looking at the snow conditions at the moment I expect that there will be skiable snow in Scotland well into June, particularly at Nevis and Coe, but you'll probably have to walk for it. I expect I'll be able to do some skiing on the snow fields over the back at Cairngorm well into May, but again I'll probably have to walk for it. |
Mmmm. I like the look of some of those. Next time I get up to Glencoe I must find someone to ski the back with.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| roga wrote: |
LOL, at the moment they can be recogised by the big grins on their faces and their being covered in powder snow |
Well said roga In my case it's a very tired big grin - been back from Cairngorm about 45 mins and I should get my lazy butt away from the forum and go and unpack the car! Long drive but worth it for the blue skies & powder. Many happy skiers today.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Cairngorm is often open before Christmas but generally the season is late. jan can be pretty sketchy but this year early jan we got a heavy midweek snowstorm at NY followed by cold, still and sunny at the weekend. Twice in a row! I drove up to get my skis & skied the Lecht Sat (opened fri afternoon), then Glenshee Sunday (on the way home). The following weekend I stopped in Glasgow and had an awesome if slightly busy opening day at Glencoe, followed by a damp heavy day skiing an empty Nevis Range. I've managed 4 weekends skiing this year and Glencoe March 9th had the best snow conditions. People are talking about skiing into May or June there. It's a long long way from Aberdeen tho', over 3 hrs via Perth. But just cos the west have had the best this year it doesn't mean anything for next year. From Aberdeen: Lecht & Glenshee 1 1/2hrs, Cairngorm 2hrs. Nevis - all day drive. March is often best but the Lecht has had a particularly bad season this year, it usually holds the snow well. Glenshee is much bigger but seems to lose snow more easily. I'm hoping for Heavy snow thurs/fri/sat as I'm going back to the folks for easter and at the moment it looks like I might have to go to Cairngorm. You are lucky, the info available is much much better thanks to winterhighland but weather forecasting is vital to save wasted early morning starts. For great photos going back years check out Highland instinct, my own efforts this year are here http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/neil2829
BTW the roads to the Lecht, Glenshee & Cairngorm are the highest and most easily snow-blocked in Scotland (Glenshee from the south blocks more easily than from the north - this can be great when coming from Deeside). If driving chose a sensible car & have a very light right foot.  (once crashed my S2000 en route GS)
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