 Poster: A snowHead
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Sorry if any of this has been covered before did have a good look using the forum search but nothing came up.
Iam desperate too go skiing in Cairngorm but iam a completenoob when it comes too Scotland so was hoping to get some advise off some more sage heads.
Looking to go the week after Easter and would like to know if anyone has any advice about hotels/ski hire and best place too get lift passes and would really like any tips anyone would be willing too share.
Thanks in advance.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Vintageryan, are you travelling by car or travelling by train / bus ? Will have a bearing on what people can suggest accommodation wise. There is something for just about every taste and budget in Aviemore, but there's lots of options slightly further afield around Strathspey, you'll often get more for your £££s with special offers from some of the hotels in outlying areas.
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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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You could try Highland Resorts in Aviemore, will probably be about £70 for a double room b&b.
Lift pass and hire when you get to the slopes, provided you arrive there about 8.30am
A. Jock
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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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There's quite a lot of discussion on Cairngorm and Scotland in general here actually, try another search and see if you can find anything useful and also take a look at Winterhighland see the link at the bottom of Winterhighland's post above.
As he asks are you going by train/plane/car and will you have transport whilst there? This makes a difference to recommendations. Also are you thinking in terms of just hotels or are you open to self catering and other types of accommodation?
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Oh forgot to mention there's 2 adults a 4yo and an 8yo
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Hilton Coylumbridge (2 miles out the ski road from aviemore), great for families, with a "funhouse" on site and babysitting facilities (a la the staff from the funhouse) also available. Usually have decent deals. Car would be helpful wherever you stay. Endless self catering accom available, family room in the hostels / bunkhouses could be good budget option - google aviemore bunkhouse, beside a great pub and a hop and a step from the rest of the fleshpots
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TotallyBoard
Most of the Green Runs are fine for total beginners in good conditions, although at that time it'll likely be cover rather than vis that is the issue.
The Shieling tow is probably the best for total beginners/youngest kids as it is a button tow and usually has the shortest q, with a very gentle slope. The hardest green run/lift combo is the ciste t-bar, which can be prone to bad vis and high winds, but will be fine for all standards on a good day.
There is a much bigger step up in Scotland from 'green' run to 'blue' run than in the alps, it seems. The lower halves of the Daylodge, Fiacell Ridge and Cas runs are some of the hardest 'blue' terrain I've come across, even just after the huge snowfall in Jan there was some tough rocks showing through the main part of the fiacell. The relience on surface lifts also means you tire a lot quicker than in France, for example.
The chepest accomodation option if you have a car is the cairngorm lodge hostel, prices from £15 a night but thats in dorms. Not sure if they allow kids but if they do iv'e certainly never seen any. Theres Glenmore lodge as well for a more b&b option, about £25 a night i htink, plus a fair few b&bs with similar prices in other villages just outside Aviemore. Avimore accom tends to be about £5-10 more expensive, for very little benefit if you have a car with you. Be warned most of the guest houses insist you book for at least 2/3 nights if one night covers a weekend or busy period.
Also depending on the level of your beginners and the conditions at the time, I'd consider at least a day at the Lecht, which is probably one of the best set ups for teaching kids in Europe, with a very gradual range of runs and lifts including a magic carpet and a chairlift. Its biggest advantage for parents over the Gorm is that if you have two kids of different skill levels, you can see one piste almost perfectly from the adjoining piste, and allow them to both ski at their level, plus you can get to a toilet/back to the car within seconds, wheras at the Gorm it can involve a wait for a funi and a trip down.
As for the lessons, the complication is more likely due to issues such as insurance and number of carers needed for under 5's rather than skill level, as well as the reaction of some young kids when seperated from their parents in any 'new' environmnet.
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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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barry and esco thanks for the pointers
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FAQ
). We are thinking that if my mam remains stable (which thankfully she is at the moment) we might try and get a couple of days up at Cairngorm 2nd week of Easter, so I'd be really interested in the replies to this thread. We would be driving and are looking for the cheapest accomodation possible (apart from sleeping in the car or under canvas).
