Winter is on the horizon, which means that very soon the best ski resorts will welcome streams of vacationers. Where to go for a dose of adrenaline, where to stay and what prices to expect this year?
Nevis Range Mountain Resort
Nevis Range ski resort is one of the best and most modern in Scotland. It is located in Fort William, near the highest point in the UK – Mount Ben Nevis. Travelers can get to the top of Mount Aonagh More on one of 12 elevators. The trip takes 15 minutes and gives hikers a chance to view the beautiful landscape with local lakes, mountains and valleys.
For lovers of skiing and snowboarding in Nevis Range provides tracks of different types of complexity: there are several green and blue, which are located near the elevator stop and are ideal for beginners, as well as red and black slopes – with an incline above 40% (they are located uphill). In addition to skiing and snowboarding, the resort offers plenty of other winter activities; you can spend your time tobogganing, snowshoeing, or snow biking up and down the mountains.
Glencoe Mountain Resort
Glencoe Mountain Resort is near the Scottish village of Glencoe and is one of Scotland’s oldest ski resorts. The 8 elevators here take you up to Meall Abouerid Mountain, and from there you can go down one of the ski trails. Glencoe Mountain Resort’s downhill trails range from steep slopes for experienced snowboarders and skiers to flatter ones for beginners. Instructor-led lessons are also available to improve your riding skills. Two-hour group lessons for beginners cost 25 pounds for adults and 20 for children, and individual lessons are 40 pounds per hour.
Glencoe Mountain Resort also organizes fun activities like a snow festival, where visitors can go sledding, skiing, making a snowman or playing snowballs.
Glenshee Ski Centre
The main advantage of Glenshee Ski Centre is, of course, its area. It is the biggest ski resort in Britain, located in Aberdeenshire. There are 22 ski elevators (that will take you to the peaks of Cairnwell and Carn Aosda in the west and Meall Odhar and Glas Maol in the east) and 36 runs of different difficulty levels: 8 green runs (for beginners), 13 blue runs, as many red runs and 2 black runs (for advanced snowboarders and skiers). In between descents you can go on a ski trip to the most beautiful parts of the resort. Or if your skiing and snowboarding skills aren’t up to snuff, take a private lesson with an instructor (£55 for 1.5 hours) or a group lesson (£25). There’s a ski academy for kids.
At Glenshee Ski Centre you can hire sporting goods and clothes. Refreshments are available from local cafes – there are three.
Cairn Gorm Mountain Resort
This resort on the Cairngorm mountain range has the most amount of snow of all the ski resorts in Scotland. That’s why the season lasts longer here, and this resort has more season ticket holders than any other. To get up to the mountains here you can take the cable car or one of the ten elevators. There is a 30-kilometer trail for going down. There is also a snowboard park in the resort.
This year Cairngorm Mountain Resort opens a ski school, where both experienced skiers and snowboarders, as well as beginners can enroll. Children can enroll in special groups for toddlers. A one-day group lesson will cost 100 pounds for adults and 75 pounds for children, and a personal lesson costs 120 pounds for two hours. After skiing or snowboarding, don’t forget to stop by The Storehouse Café on the resort grounds. You’ll be treated to delicious, homemade meals and warming drinks.
The Lecht Ski Centre
The Lecht Ski Centre is situated in the heart of Scotland’s largest national park, Cairngorms National Park, at the top of the pass between Tomintoul and Strathdon. The local hills rise to 775 metres, so you’ll have plenty of time for sporting activities in both summer and winter.
In winter, The Lecht Ski Centre attracts both seasoned skiers and snowboarders, as well as beginners, as there is a track for every skier. You can take one of the 12 elevators, including a chairlift with cabins for three people and a conveyor elevator.
Inexperienced skiers and snowboarders can enroll in a ski school to improve their skills. All equipment and sportswear can be rented at the resort complex (£22 per day). There is also a store, cash register, as well as a cafe and bar for vacationers to eat.
