 Poster: A snowHead
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It's always fun to read about Scottish skiing from an outsider's point of view (I'd always fraudulently claim to be an insider, having spent a season on Cairngorm) and this article by Paul Hochman in Ski Magazine (US) doesn't disappoint. In fact, it's got some very funny sequences and plenty of 'spot the error' potential (Inverness is north-west of Glasgow, we're informed!)
The writer has a helpful love of Scotch whisky and has a knack for sussing out the eccentricities of a day on the Scottish hills - in this case, Aonach Mor (Nevis Range). How about this:
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The Gaelic word dreich, pronounced as a rude blend of "drab" and "ecch!" is exactly what it's like outside when, after two hours of driving, I finally arrive at a tiny, rambling inn called Old Pines, which faces Ben Nevis and its ski area, Aonach Mor. I've barely stepped out of my Vauxhall and into the drizzle when the Inn's owner, Bill Barber, shambles out to greet me, wearing khakis and a green polo shirt.
"Brilliant!" he says, issuing the first of many exclamations he'd make over the weekend. "You found us! Care for a bit of flatbread and a tea?"
What I'd really like is a stiff drink. |
Don't miss the set of photos linked to the article - there are some good ones.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Good article, very well written.
The Old Pines has wonderful food but they were thinking of closing when I was there last and may not even exist this season, at least under those owners. Great shame if so.
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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 stayed at The Old Pines only 4 weeks ago. Great location and good food. Has changed hands earlier this year (and I can't make comparison with previous management), but I can confirm that it is very much in business, and that it is continuing the tradition of haute cuisine that got it its reputation in the first place.
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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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I don't know about The Old Pines, but Aonach Mor has some great ski-ing ( except when it's raining which is most of the time over there). I once met an American ski-ing on Cairngorm who could not believe that we had large boulders in the middle of the pistes. she thought the facilities were fine though, ditto the snow conditions - she just couldn't believe that we left natural hazzards where they were!
Excellent article, and may it bring many Yanks to fill the Scottish coffers.
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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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and may it bring many Yanks to fill the Scottish coffers
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The trouble is - they've got to find the country first - geography does not seem to be a strong point! 
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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 Gaelic word dreich |
I would think "dreich" is Scots (from the same Germanic roots as English, as used by Burns) rather than Gaelic. Perhaps it has been imported into Gaelic. Any Scots care to comment?
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brian
brian
Guest
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laundryman, dreich is 100% Scots afaik.
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brian, thanks. I thought 'afaik' must be too for a second!
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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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Great article. My other half works at Glasgow airport and there she brings back occasional reports of tourists (often Americans, but not exclusively) asking questions such as what is "cadildy" (she thinks they were after a ceilidh). Being an Englishman myself, I can't claim any better knowledge than the next person, but it's good to read about tourists coming over and immersing in the culture.
If you want to know what dreich means, you could have looked out of our living room window yesterday (looks out to the Holy Loch and Clyde Estuary). When the weather's good, it's a view to die for, but when it's not - well, it's dreich!
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masopa, it was only in my early 20's that I realised that the written word 'ceilidh' was the spoken word "kaylee", which I'd heard so often 
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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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easiski, must be a West Coast thing! I've spent most of my life in the East Midlands / Fens so am used to cold, somewhat windy (Lincolnshire's flat!) weather, but relatively little rain & fog. Needless to say, it was a shock moving up here!!! Have some cracking pictures though...
Masopa's (non-dreich) views
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masopa, It's definitely a West coast thing. I actually come from Surrey where the weather is quite good. The wettest I've ever been has always been at Aonach Mor! Through 7 layers once!!!! 
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You know it makes sense.
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masopa,
Lovely pics. ? views from Gourock.
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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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Indeed. Took a good panorama set yesterday morning. Will have to upload them - snow on the hills opposite!
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