Ski Scotland
Jem Tugwell
has anybody any experience of ski Scotland?
What are the best resorts for 2 intermediate skiers?
Best time to go?
Times to avoid?
Most importantly, what is the snow like, from the brochure pictures to
conditions look 'crunchy', is this the case
look forward to your comments
Jem
William Warburton
|>
|> has anybody any experience of ski Scotland?
Oh, Aye. (Maybe that should be Och, Aye :-)
|>
|> What are the best resorts for 2 intermediate skiers?
There are 5 centres: all fairly small (500m vertical, typically). In general
bigger is better for intermediates (opinion) but each centre has something a
little different to offer. The only one that really qualifies as a "resort"
is Aviemore (Cairngorm) which is the biggest (although not the most extensive
that's Glenshee) and even there the accomodation is ten miles form the skiing.
Aviemore is big (relatively) and has interesting, challenging skiing- it also
gets very busy and stands accused of having the rudest lift attendants!
Glenshee is extensive and has more "spacious" runs- ie not so narrow. However
it can be argued that the skiing is less interesting (in fact this is quite
frequently argued because lots of people disagree!).
Aonach Mor (Nevis Range) at Fort William is new, friendlier and generally
more civilised- nicer food, access road at sea level, open pistes. But it isn't
as big and there is a lack of variety on the slopes.
The Lecht I havn't skied because it's further away from where I live and
appears to be much less interesting- it's popular as a "family" destination
though & has some floodlit skiing. It is on the notorious "A939 Cockbridge to
Tomintoul" road- often listed as closed due to snow on the radio.
Glencoe is smaller and closes on Tuesdays & Wednesdays. It has a reputation
as a friendly area with good atmosphere.
|> Best time to go?
Probably late season- because the sun is less strong in Scotland than the Alps
there is often excellent spring skiing in late season- April & May. The snow
will be heavy (or icy) but the weather is likely to be better.
|> Times to avoid?
Weekends are ludicrously busy. Easter is bad. Easter weekend is so busy that
you need to be prepared to laugh at the queues.
|>
|> Most importantly, what is the snow like, from the brochure pictures to
|> conditions look 'crunchy', is this the case
You won't find much powder in Scotland (though we occasionally get some
light snow which a Scottish skier will describe as powder) however you will
get everything else, usually on the same day, often on the same run.
Ice, slush, soft snow, hardpack, sugar, corn, you name it!
The main thing to be aware of about Scottish Skiing (assuming you can cope
with the queues) is the weather. It can be good but often isn't- there is
nothing like the consistent, stable anticyclonic weather that dominates the
alps. Typical Scottish ski weather is windy and often misty- the cloudbase
is frequently below the summits. It may also snow and I've skied in heavy
rain before today ( I'd driven up there and thought it would be snowing at
altitude :-( ). Flat light is common.
Wm Gore (of goretex fame) is based in Scotland. North Face are based in
Scotland. Phoenix & Berghaus clothing is very popular on the Scottish slopes.
Is this a coincidence? I think not :-). (Did you know that most "ski clothing"
isn't actually waterproof? Most Scottish skiers do).
In general I wouldn't reckon it was worth taking a "ski holiday" in Scotland
( X-country is a different matter ) because it won't be significantly
cheaper than the alps where the skiing is better. On the other hand if you
are determined or get a chance to supplement a holiday abroad with some
Scottish skiing I would recommend it. It is widely said that if you can ski
Scotland you can ski anywhere!
|> look forward to your comments
Hope this is of sufficient interest to justify it's distribution, I thought
many readers would be interested to read about somewhere a bit different.
Makes a change from JH, Breck, Taos, Whistler...
W.
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