United Kingdom
Skiing ( and boarding ) in Scotland can be great. A brilliant weekend or short break. BUT never take the weather for granted. When the snow is there, it is glorious, but how to be sure a 400 mile trek north is going to be worth it?
Simple. Just log on to Winterhighland, the completely independent home of Scottish snowsports lovers. Up to date reports, webcams and expert information from the locals. Don't travel north without it!
On an average weekend at Cairngorm, you can find yourself queuing anywhere from 30-60 mins to purchase a lift ticket. Instead, stop off at the Glenmore Shop, by the shores of Loch Morlich and purchase your ticket there.
Not only do you beat the ticket queue, but you can also get up the funicular before that queue becomes massive too!
www.aviemoreski.co.uk
Glenmore Shop, Cairngorm Access Road, Aviemore, PH22 1QY
Google map: bit.ly/TSBk7W
All three of my children have learned to ski in the Cairngorms. It's a good place to start with them young as the funicular railway takes them to the beginners slopes at the top of the mountain which usually has some snow and there is a cafe/restaurant for hot chocolate and food when they get cold. If the snow is poor or wind up the mountain prevents the lifts operating then there are lots of other things to do in or near Aviemore such as walking (Roithemurchas estate), mountain biking (Bothy Bikes), dog sledging, seeing the reindeer herd, visiting the Scottish wildlife park, swimming (at the Holiday Inn) or going for a tree top walk through an elevated pathway, so it's not all full on skiing. My son broke his arm snowboarding there and he was treated at the GP's surgery as they have X-ray scanning facilities on site rather than having to trek to Inverness to discover if anything is broken. The children got a taste for skiing there and now want to venture elsewhere and can ski/board all day but it's a great place to start with kids who may not want to ski all day everyday and want a range of other things to do as well.
Cairngorm Mountain Railway: www.cairngormmoutain.org
Roithemurchas estate:
www.roithemurchas.net
Bothy Bikes:
www.bothybikes.co.uk
Highland Wildlife Park:
www.highlandwildlifepark.org
Landmark Park:
www.landmarkpark.co.uk
Google map: bit.ly/Q7chkp
Take a hike at the late season in Aviemore (Scotland rocks for snowboarding - don't listen to the fairweather types) and session a kicker. You never know, you may even see the sun and be able to session in a t-shirt!
Stay for the night in Aviemore and have a nice tip of whiskey at the end of the night.
Aviemore, Scotland. At the Cairngorm mountain resort
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