 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm thinking about trying to squeeze another long weekend's skiing in sometime end March. So I'm looking at flights, hire cars, resorts close to Geneva etc as normal but then I think... what about a quick blast up the M6?
I don't know Scotland particularly well and next to nothing about the skiing but I did spend a long weekend MTBing round the Cairngorms in the summer.
So...
where's likely to have snow at the end of March?
where's best to stay?
we'll have a boarder with us - which areas are best for boarders (most chair lifts)?
is the snow reliable enough to book in advance?
Ta,
Higs
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brian
brian
Guest
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Higs, only do it if you'll be happy with a weekend where you might not get to ski on some or all days.
Best snow bets are Glencoe, Nevis and Cairngorm.
Best to stay - location wise I'd probably aim to be somewhere around Nevis and Glencoe as they make a great 2 centre weekend. You can add the Gorm to the mix, it's about an hour and a half drive from Nevis so with a bit of driving you can place yourself handily enough for all 3.
Boarders - Cairngorm has the funicular, from which you can access a good variety of runs. Nevis and the Coe have a skiing chair each (and an access lift each) but in reality you're not going to get anything like the real feel of any of our hills without being happy riding tows.
Sadly not. With average luck from now you'll get pretty reasonable cover on the main runs, with bad luck nothing, with good luck some great off piste as well. As ever in Scotland the surface could be anything from concrete, powder, spring snow, slush, ....
With the current crunchy credit conditions, as long as you steer clear of school easter hols you should be able to wait and pick your accom based on a last minute survey of snow conditions and weather forecast. Flexibility is definitely the key to enjoying Scotland. 
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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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Well here is my sales pitch (see detailed account at the end) but that was the best snow for years.
And this was my suggestion for the last (off-piste) run if the snow is good enough.
Week-ends of 21/22 March or 28/29 March may be prime ones to be considered.
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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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Higs, where are you based? Are you the Higs of STW from Macc / Bollington? Fancy picking up a hitchhiker on the A6? 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Hubby and I went for a weekend once - my mum is in Hamilton so we dropped the kids there and headed off on the Friday morning.
We knew that Glenshee was closed, we stopped at the Lecht and skied for an afternoon there on 'sugar' snow with freezing winds and some light rain.
We stayed at the MacDonalds in Aviemore. Had a lovely meal. Saturday we went to the ski area but just about everything was shut due to wind and/or lack of snow and it was freezing so we just looked and then decided to go for a walk and take a trip on the steam railway in Aviemore. Sunday it was brilliant sunshine - t-shirt weather - we hired mountain bikes!
We had a brilliant weekend, but not much skiing LOL!
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| Higs wrote: |
| nbt wrote: |
| Are you the Higs of STW from Macc? |
I am he. |
Am I the only snowHead who doesn't also post on STW?
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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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| rob@rar wrote: |
| Higs wrote: |
| nbt wrote: |
| Are you the Higs of STW from Macc? |
I am he. |
Am I the only snowHead who doesn't also post on STW? |
I've not seen David Goldsmith over there either.
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Do you have an MTB Rob? Maybe you should consider it....
Higs, 6 hours driving from Stockport to Aviemore or Fort william. Based on a car getting 40MPG, petrol should be under £100, quite reasonable when you consider that the train is £100.80 per person (I've just checked) although that does include getting the sleeper train back down, and flights would be over £100. That is of course if my sums are correct...
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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maybe we shoudl ask Brant to make skis and superstar to make bindings to keep all you stw guys busy on here aswell.
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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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Oh dear, over half of the snow depth in Scottish ski "resorts" just melted.
Even before that they said there wasn't enough to cover the rocks on the back of Nevis - so how much do they need? 
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| snowball wrote: |
Even before that they said there wasn't enough to cover the rocks on the back of Nevis - so how much do they need? |
I think it's more to do with wind direction either plastering the frontside or dropping into the back, rather than how much they get in one or two storms. I guess the recent storms weren't a good direction for the back....
Cheers,
Greg
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You know it makes sense.
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| nbt wrote: |
Do you have an MTB Rob? Maybe you should consider it....
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I do have a Marin something or other, but it sees mountains about as often as a Chelsea Tractor goes off-road 
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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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papasmurf, Brant already sells snowboard helmets. Well, planet-x does anyway.
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Poster: A snowHead
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and they look rubbish...most have been a job lot to fill a container.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Some photos should swing it. I live in Manchester & could guide you round any of the ski areas. Been to 8 UK ski areas since Jan 08, including all the Scottish ones at least twice (some many more). Either need a lift or you can phone/text if you want. The photos will explain why I'm not offering a lift - not got a passenger-friendly car. Can usually predict a decent weekend, as you can also see from the photos. My advice: never plan too early, or be ready to call it off. Start considering on wednesday & make a rough plan thursday. If you want advice (been mentioned many times):
http://www.winterhighland.info/
My photos of recent skiing:
http://picasaweb.google.com/neil2829
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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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what...snow, VERY nice photos!
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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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Hmmm.... I think I'll plan a weekend in the Alps and grab a weekend in Scotland if the opportunity arises.
The only problem being that (with family and other commitments) it's unlikely that I can swing two weekends before the snow goes.
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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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I've been pricing it tup - my problem is money, not time, and TBH for the price of a weekend in Scotland I can get probalby get a full week on a last-minute deal, so I'm probalby out.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Higs - Sounds reasonable.
| nbt wrote: |
| I've been pricing it tup - my problem is money, not time, and TBH for the price of a weekend in Scotland I can get probalby get a full week on a last-minute deal, so I'm probalby out. |
I'm surprised - how does it add up?
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Travel time is about the same, so it's purely fiscal. £30 for petrol, £30 per person per night for a room, maybe B&B if you're lucky. Add on ten to fifteen pounds per night for an evening meal. Based on a 3 day trip, that's £150 to £200. You can usually get a last minute half board deal for a full week for around £300 which includes flights and transfers to a well known and probalby more snow- and ski-sure resort than the scottish resorts
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nbt, your reasons are fair enough but me and a mate have took the gamble on a weekend trip for the 13th-16th March. The total for trains (Fort William), accomadation and lift passes (Nevis) has come in at £125, plus beer and food money the long weekend should come in at well under £200!
If you've got the extra cash I to would have a late deal, but if your budget is tight the options are there. I must point out that we did use vouchers for 2for1 train tickets and the accomadation is a hostel but for anyone sat complaining that they can't afford a ski break, it's these options or nothing!
However looking at the webcams at the moment I can see us spending the money for the lift passes on beer and pool! 
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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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manicpb, that's a pretty good price I must admitt but sadly Mrs NBT would never agree to a stay in a hostel like a YHA dorm, only one with private facilities - and they cost as much as a B&B. Maybe one day I'll ski scotland!
ANd yes, when I say fiscl I mean value for money. Id rather spend a little more and get a lot more skiing, if you see what I mean
Hope your trip goes well though!
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| Higs wrote: |
| Sell me the idea of a long weekend's skiing in Scotland |
Certainly, that'll be £29.99 (including the Sunday papers), unless you want extra-long (£35.99 including the Wednesday papers).
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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nbt, I agree with that logic but the big thing for many of us who do make a weekend of Scotland is simply that we can. I guess you might select your skiing trips on the same basis as I do, i.e. never feel any compulsion or attraction to return to the same place again, no matter how extensive, beautiful, chilled etc you remember your last trip. Just select on the basis of what's available, where's the snow going to be good and what is going to offer the best value. The advantage of skiing in Scotland though is that you can fit in a day or three here and there without using up your annual holiday allowance, still buy a couple of bargain Euroweeks and rack up a total of 25 days or more skiing per year for the same price that many would happily pay for a single week in a luxury chalet.
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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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moffatross, Indeed, If I had the money and didn't detest travelling by car, I'd be up in Scotland at any opportunity. However, it's not right for me
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FAQ
) on our MTB tour of the Cairngorms. We were actually staying the night at the Loch Morlich YH but nipped into Aviemore to eat.
