 Poster: A snowHead
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I've never skied Scotland, and we are considering a weekend this season. We weren't planning on booking until much much nearer the time, to see what the conditions are like first.
However, I'm wondering, based on previous years, when does the Scottish ski season usually start and end? What is the snow like in March? What is it like at the end of January, and more importantly, how accessible/inaccessible are the roads?
Our car is not suitable for driving to Scotland (rear-wheel 2-seater). What are the trains like? We live in Northern England so could get on the sleeper train in Preston, although the return times look a bit pants (arrive in Preston at 4am-ish). Or would 4-wheel drive car hire be better? Or can you fly (not far from Manchester airport so thats an option)?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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It can be very cold in January, march and April are generally my favourite time of year for skiing, I think the first week of march is a reasonably safe bet, look on winterhighland for pics of previous years
http://www.winterhighland.info/pix/pixalbum.php?pix_id=620
you search various dates by clicking on the season at the bottom, this is from 2009/2010
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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 don't need anything clever in a car to get up to the Scottish resorts. I used to go up in my 2CV, and I would probably do so again in my MX5. The roads are normally clear
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You think an MX5 could make it? Ski carriage would be interesting though! Currently considering buying a Handirack roof rack but not a clue if it will actually work!
lynseyf, thanks for the tip. Likelihood is it will be March. I'm just keen to get skiing again, and can't wait until Austria in February!
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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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We live in the Preston area and always drive up. Leave work at 4oclock ish Friday night in Spittal of Glenshee by 9pm ish depending on traffic. Have sometimes skied Glenshee on Saturday and driven over to Newtonmore to ski Cairngorms Sunday but that's a bit of a faff to be honest. In the right conditions skiing in Scotland can be fantastic. Last year we managed to get B & B in the Spittal for £10pppn booked a few nights in advance. Never had a problem driving. Even in December 2010 when there was huge amounts of snow still managed it. We do have snow chains but never needed to use them. Lots of reasonably priced accommodation just outside Aviemore too.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I never make plans for my trips to the Scottish slopes, the snow and weather is just too unreliable, and I only live 80 minutes drive from Glen Shee. It is always spur of the moment when the weather and conditions are right.
However I have had many, many fantastics days in the Scottish mountains, just leave it to the last minute and drive up when the conditions look good. However try to come up mid week if you can, as if the conditions are good, the slopes will be mobbed as the owners cram in more punters than the lifts can effectively handle.
Cairn Gorm, the last week end of April this year.
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Thu 25-10-12 15:39; edited 1 time in total
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| feef wrote: |
| As well as having surfaced the roads... |
Have they done that now then? They hadn't in 2008 when I went!
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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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March might be great, it might be awful. March 2012 saw *NO* lift served skiing at all in scotland, for the forst time since lift served skiing began. However April saw the return of the snow and indeed skiing continued into May.
In 2011 we took our caravan up to Scotland for a couple of weeks, and while the Lecht had already closed due to the scarcity of snow, we had a great trip and a snowfall while we were there meant we were able to ski all 5 "resorts" - more details here
http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=1669075
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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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The MX5 is brand-new so I'm yet to see how it copes with bad weather. Our estate was completely untreated, and it was actually a half to a foot of snow with sheet ice underneath that was covering the road. The only guy who could get off was the one in the old Land Rover with snow chains.
But winter tyres are not a bad idea anyway 
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Thu 25-10-12 16:05; edited 1 time in total
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I recall one year, I lived in East Kilbride and was working in Hillington in Glasgow. EK is about 400ft higher than Glasgow so often has snow when it's only raining in Glasgow.
On one occasion, the weather was so bad and the snow so deep that noone could get into the office on the Monday morning. I got in on the Tuesday, and was one of only 3 that made it, and the other 2 were relatively local. I was driving a Citroen Xantia estate-car
I got in no problem on the Wednesday at all, but still I people were having problems getting in somehow, and even saw someone in a 4x4 struggling to get parked beside me, and eventually abandoned it in the middle of the car park.
I wasn't flavour of the month, tho, as we were only given the Monday and Tuesday as a paid 'holiday' due to the weather. Anyone that didn't make it in on Wednesday onwards were given it as unpaid leave, the argument being if I could get in from somewhere with far worse road and snow conditions than Glasgow then there was no excuse 
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You know it makes sense.
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First half of March is normally the deepest snow on average - with the rest of March not far behind (and often another peak in early April). But as been said the Scottish snow can be erratic with effectively no snow the second half of last March. That was exceptional, though.
I have been trying to get together a Snowheads Scottish weekend meet-up for (probably) 23rd/24th March.
What sort of skiing do you enjoy? If you like steeper stuff - especially off piste you should consider Nevis Range, which has splendid Back-bowl skiing (and often more snow than the front). There are lots of B & Bs especially on the south edge of Fort William.
If you prefer less challenging piste skiing, however, Aviemore(Cairngorm) and Glenshee are much more extensive.
Nevis back:
 (its not mostly as hard as this!)
Last edited by You know it makes sense. on Thu 25-10-12 17:43; edited 2 times in total
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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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Less challenging piste skiing.
I'd looked at Glencoe originally, as I thought that would be the easiest/quickest to get to, but according to Google Directions, Glenshee takes the same amount of time by car.
We were looking at the second weekend in March, but would quite happily go anytime.
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Poster: A snowHead
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^ The Scotch ski season typically starts in Nov / Dec / Jan, peaks in Feb / Mar, and closes in Apr / May.
The second half of Feb to the close of Apr is the best window for sunniest weather and deepest snow.
Nevis Range is the best resort for skiing.
Glencoe is the best resort for scenery.
Cairngorm is the best resort for reliable snow.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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shootinstar9, For easy access Cairngorm or Nevis Range are probably the best, if you decided to go by train Aviemore would be best with an hourly bus service to the slopes. After an unprecedented March without snow this year it returned at the beginning of April and thankfully kept coming so that we had good skiing until nearly the end of May. Incidentally the AA gives me a time of 2hr25min to get to Cairngorm from near Perth but driving to the speed limit it normally takes us about 1hr 40min. Agree with snowball, Glencoe is worth a visit.
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Alternatively the train to Fort William for Nevis (via Glasgow). There is an overnight train from London, too, but it arrives after the lifts open (or did previously, anyway). Or you can go easyjet to Glasgow and hire a car.
You can see the snow fences in larry1950's photo of Cairngorm above.
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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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We live in North West England, so would drive up the M6/M74 until we hit Glasgow. So either East or West would be accessible.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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shootinstar9, sorry, yes, I forgot - but may be relevant for others.
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| snowball wrote: |
| shootinstar9, sorry, yes, I forgot - but may be relevant for others. |
 don't know which to choose now!
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shootinstar9, took us 6 hours from Manchester to Aviemore when we went up for the mayday weekend, but I cruise at a leisurely 60mph on the motorway and we did stop to eat lunch so you could easily do it faster
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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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shootinstar9, im from manchester and have done scotland for a weekend,. Best thing to do is take a friday off work, and go up on thursday evening after work. I would go to Cairngorm if i were you. I have never ever had any issue woth driving in scotland. Roads are pretty good.
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| Ricklovesthepowder wrote: |
| shootinstar9, im from manchester and have done scotland for a weekend, |
I did Scotland for a weekend from Brighton!
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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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Thanks for all the advice guys.
I think, weather permitting, we'll be skiing Scotland this season.
I'll be asking for hints & tips regarding the cheap accommodation already mentioned nearer the time!
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There's some great advice above - go for it 
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