Skiing in Scotland

Guest2

Guest2

Guest2

Soldato
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I have been skiing for many years but mainly France. Some friends have asked about doing a few days / long weekend in Scotland next year in February.

Has anyone ever been skiing / boarding ion Scotland that can comment on what its like in terms of;

Ski area - beginner / intermediate / advanced / off piste
Weather
Price
Accomodation
Ski in Ski out
Restaurants
Nightlife

I would like to go but there's not much point if its better and costs the same to get a Eurostar for a long weekend in the Alps or other Euro destination
 
Went quite a few times about 10 years ago to the Cairngorms. Quite enjoyed it, get some crazy weather though, and it's touch and go wether any runs are open, skied in blizzard conditions at times, but part of experience. Restaurant on Ptarmigan, used to have a couple of pints up there half way through, Aviemore, small village with a couple of ski/rental places. Prices seemed about average. Imagine it's still the same. White Lady was fun I remember.

Overall beautiful scenery, but main problem is the weather you could get up there only to find nothing is open. I would recommened it for the overall experience.
 
As above, the weather can be absolutely mental.

Also I didn't find the slopes challenging in Glencoe. Aviemore was even gentler.
 
I was keeping an eye on the Glencoe mountain resort website last February hoping for some snow (went to Mull for a week) and I got the impression they're closed more often than they are open due to wind.
 
I used to ski at Glenshee and the Lecht all the time when I lived in Aberdeenshire. Great place to learn, the weather can be pretty mad and there are some good runs.
However, you'd only ski here if it was handy. If the money is the same to get to the Alps, then it's a no brainer. Go abroad! It's much better than Scotland has to offer.
 
The problem with Scotland is pretty much what you closed in your last sentence with OP.

There are resorts in France that are very easy to get to, so it always leaves the dilemma of why not just go somewhere that has more and varied terrain and is likely to have better conditions.

I've weighed it up a few times in the past and it just never seems worth it, at least living as far South as London.
 
The most adventerous skiing you'll get in Scotland is probably Glen Coe or Nevis Range both are relatively close to each other so you could pick and choose between the two on the day. Biggest issue is potential lack of snow, or indeed too much snow closing the better areas due to avalanche risk.

Fort William is a good base for either. Glen Coe is the only one as far as I'm aware where there is lodging at the hill (hobbit pods!).

Aviemore for Cairngorm mountain.

Glen Shee and especially The Lecht are limited for more advanced skiers and don't really have anything local to them (Braemar for Glen Shee but I don't think there's much of a night life there)

Tickets are about £30 for a day if I remember correctly.
 
Thanks all. I think i need to look at prices for getting to the Alps for a long weekend or thurs - sun.

I think I would be let down in terms of slope difficulty too as I generally tend to ski black, off piste or top to bottom reds when I can using only easier slopes to get to and from the harder runs. Off piste is fun but never really go far from the slopes so I don't end up lost or stuck in a huge bowl having to climb out for 30 minutes like have have once or twice :) I like brutally steep or off piste tree lined runs under chair lifts which I am yet to see pictures of in Scotland

It looks like it certainly would be a challenge with off piste stuff but I also don't fancy dieing on the Scottish slopes due to weather changing and getting stuck or lost!
 
Glencoe has some good off piste and has had a run of good winters recently. Top to bottom skiing is great when on offer, it's big downside is it's very prone to high wind. Flypaper and Spring runs are good too.

You will not find continent type black runs on any of the Scottish slopes, that's not to say there's not good black runs however.

Fort William (Nevis range) and Aviemore (Cairngorms) both offer good accommodation and nightlife/restaurants. Glencoe is a little remote however the Clachan Inn is a good night usually.
 
Surely better if you're relatively local and can do a trip at short notice (like decide on a Thursday to go that weekend) *if* the weather is good.

I'm not sure I'd want to plan a trip there in advance as it could turn out to be ruined by weather much more easily and given that most people have limited time off then for the sake of a bit of extra cash you might as well go to a ski resort on the continent - perhaps Central/Eastern Europe if on a budget.


Maybe worth it if you're not too set on it being a skiing holiday and have other activities you could do but with skiing as a possible...
 
Aye, you can't really plan on skiing in Scotland unless you're happy doing something else when it turns out there's no snow or it's too windy.
 
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