High five for skiing in Scotland

cairngorm

The snow is falling and the ski slopes are open early in Scotland. BBC Scotland presenter Fred MacAulay has taken to the pistes to film the country’s fantastic “Big Five” mountain areas.

Ski-Scotland is hoping the You Tube video www.youtube.com/visitscotland will bring holidaymakers flooding to the Highlands this season.

Early snow has meant four resorts are already open for business – CairnGorm Mountain (above), The Lecht, Nevis Range and Glencoe Mountain. Glenshee will not be far behind them.

Fred MacAulay, an avid skier, has travelled to pistes all over the world but claims nothing compares to the exhilarating slopes of his homeland. He said: “The quality of skiing in Scotland can be exceptional, I’ve enjoyed some brilliant snow days. With the perfect conditions, our slopes can be better than the top resorts in Europe”.

Surrounded by some of the most beautiful and dramatic Highland and Grampian scenery, visitors get breathtaking views as they ski or snowboard on a variety of runs and slopes and there’s great après ski.

Highlights of Scotland’s snowsports areas include:

CairnGorm Mountain

This resort boasts Scotland’s only funicular railway and has a reputation for being one of the most beautiful places to ski. With a total of 11 lifts serving 22 runs, the longest is 3.3 kilometres, CairnGorm Mountain offers a variety of pisted runs, backcountry options and terrain parks or mini shreds.

The Lecht

One of three ski areas within the Cairngorms National Park, the resort is a favourite with families and beginners, yet also offers more adventurous sliding for other levels on 18 pisted runs.  There’s also snow tubing on a dedicated run served by a tow.

Glencoe Mountain

Scotland’s original ski area, Glencoe has been operating for 56 years. Known for stunning views from the pistes to Rannoch Moor and an infamous “Flypaper” black run, the resorts 19 runs and seven lifts also offer gentle beginners slopes on the Plateau and amazing runs for intermediates and experts.

Nevis Range

Nevis Range offers the highest skiing in Scotland on the slopes and in the corries of Aonach Mor – one of Scotland’s highest mountains. Thirty-five runs are served by Scotland’s only gondola as well as three chairlifts and eight surface lifts. Nevis Range offers a dedicated beginner area on gentle slopes, some amazing intermediate runs on the face of the mountain and awesome off-piste itineraries for experts in the Back Corries.

Glenshee

The largest resort in the UK, Glenshee extends across four mountains and three valleys. The resort boasts 3 chairlifts and 20 surface lifts serving 36 runs, 40 kilometres of pisted snow, off-piste and ski mountaineering terrain. There is a wide choice for all levels of skiers and boarders, from the gentle green Bunny Run to the rail park and the breath-taking, black-graded Tiger.

Indoor snow sports can also be experienced at the Snow Factor in Braehead, Glasgow. Visitors can learn to ski and snowboard, or even sledge on the 168-metre slope. You can also try snow holing, snow tubing, dog sledding, ice climbing and winter walking.

Visit www.ski-scotland.com for more information.