Snowboard Club UK (SCUK)
UK - Boarding in Scotland?
tr3m5 - Feb 24, 2010 - 09:49 PM
Post subject: Boarding in Scotland?
Hi all,
I'm an ex-skiier who has just been to Bansko (Bulgaria) for my first 'board trip and loved it!
I'm desperate to get back on the slopes but due to a new addition to the family its not going to happen this year.
However, i've been looking at doing a weekend in Scotland but havent been able to get much info off 'real people'....is it worth the ~7.5+ hour trip from Kettering?...
Glenshee seems to get good reviews and is the closest to me but i've just read that Nevis has the best snow in 15 years..
Does anyone have any advice/recommendations at all??? i'm looking to go the weekend of the 6th March, probably up early sat to get on the slopes for lunchtime, stay over then early on the slopes sunday for an afternoon drive back.
Any help greatly appreciated. 
dashie - Feb 24, 2010 - 10:10 PM
Post subject: RE: Boarding in Scotland?
Its not just Nevis thats having the best winter in 15 yrs. All the slopes have full coverage. I've been up to Glenshee last weekend and its hard packed snow everywhere and its been snowing all week too.
Have you seen www.winterhighland.info and highland instinct? Some ideas of snow and a scottish forums on there.
If your looking to stay over Glenshee doesnt offer that many places cheap near by, Cairngorm does with an Avimore b&b about 30 inc breakfast.
Dylanrobinson - Feb 24, 2010 - 10:15 PM
Post subject: RE: Boarding in Scotland?
Haha, just asked the same question in another thread!
I just can't decide between Nevis and Cairngorm for the same weekend.
keludm - Feb 25, 2010 - 12:41 PM
Post subject: RE: Boarding in Scotland?
They are all good at the moment, the Lecht is a bit smaller though and probably best suited to beginners. Its also probably the furthest for you to get to.
wickychoo - Feb 25, 2010 - 12:52 PM
Post subject: RE: Boarding in Scotland?
We're heading to Cairngorm for that weekend. We're up in Glasgow for work, we thought it would be rude not to check out the slopes! There's loads of B&Bs Aviemore way, and if for some bizarre reason there's no snow in Cairngorm, the other slopes are only a couple of hours drive away - you've already done the long drive so it's not *that* much further than driving to an indoor slope (well for us anyway)
DJb - Feb 25, 2010 - 01:32 PM
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Most years the value of a trip up to the Highland resorts might of been questionable (considering the cost and time of getting to the Alps). But with the current weather going on in the north of Scotland, it will absolutely epic wherever you go this weekend and beyond. Cairngorm will be up there with any small alpine resort (except for the not-so-great infrastructure).
ferociousgeorge - Feb 25, 2010 - 05:20 PM
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Best season in years, its totally worth it, for digs its better to go to cairngorm or nevis , glencoe and glenshee dont offer much that way and the lecht is just brutal to get to
gaz_5_m - Feb 25, 2010 - 09:29 PM
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Glencoe has a good hotel servicing it this year George. Crianlarich hotel doing a skier special, we stayed there last week.
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Available from December 2009 until April 2010 DBL/TWIN Room only £40 Bed & Breakfast
Single Room only £25 Bed & Breakfast Ski tickets and passes available from the hotel and a free shuttle to and from the ski resort.
Late check out on day of departure so you can have a shower and be relaxed for your journey home.
Stay 4 nights for the price of 3
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The hotel is about 30 miles (30 ish minutes shuttle) from the hill, but they take you there for free (including gear) and pick you up at night. We also ended up with £8 of vouchers to spend on food at Glencoe for a) buying our lift pass from there and b) taking the shuttle.
If you're planning on heading up for a few days it would save you some miles on the car and is pretty cheap.
Breakfast was full cooked + toast/tea/coffee/juice/cereal.
Eating in the hotel at night wasn't bargain basement, but it wasn't extortionate either. Was £30 for 2 courses for the two of us and food was pretty damn good.
And they had live music on in the bar.
I've posted about this on a few forums so the word can get out for you guys travelling up. It's only an hour and a bit away from us but for the price we thought we'd try it and were delighted with what we ended up getting. Hoping that if they get good take up this winter they will continue next winter.
Place was full of skiers/boarders as well, so had a good atmosphere at night, especially with the Olympics on the telly.
gangus1 - Feb 26, 2010 - 10:50 PM
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definately worth the trip - conditions are epic at the moment!!
I've been at Glenshee most weekends since christmas. Conditions are great but there is nowhere that nearby for you to stay. Glencoe is similar on the accomodation front, so the best option would probably be Cairngorm. The snow is awesome, and there are plenty of places to stay in Aviemore and elsewhere nearby. Havent been to Nevis Range so cant really comment, but it would be a good bit further for your than Glenshee or even Cairngorm.
WHerever you decide to go - i can almost guarantee that you will have a great time
adverse - Feb 27, 2010 - 12:00 AM
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When we went up we'd stayed at Pitlochry, in an attempt to hedge our bets somewhat and try to be between Glenshee and Aviemore, since it was our first time and we didn't really know the score. The conditions were good but we were concerned about the winds - high winds will shut the lifts so however great the snow is if you can't get to the top you're a bit stuck. Glenshee seemed to have the most lifts/runs and uplift, so we figured it was the most likely to have stuff open. We did Glenshee on the Sat and Aviemore on the Sun, both were around an hour or so's drive from where we were staying - a bit of a pain but we felt it was worth it to give us the option as it's a long drive and we wanted to get the most time on the slopes as possible. Aviemore was the better resort I think, and there is definitely a load more apres and places to stay around there. However we did get to a great little pub with it's own brewery in (or maybe just outside) Pitlochry, the food and ale was top notch. The bonus of staying a bit of of the way was that the room was excellent and only £20!
stonie - Feb 27, 2010 - 09:26 PM
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Just had an absolutely fantastic day at Glenshee. Now in Aviemore, heading up the Gorm in the morning. Roads are terrible, took 4.5 hours to get to Aviemore for Glenshee but I'm sure its worth it.
freestylepumper - Feb 27, 2010 - 10:22 PM
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GO THE COE
philboarder - Feb 27, 2010 - 10:55 PM
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stonie terrible as in busy or just really icey. Are snow chains required we decided to leave it till next weekend.
Your going to have an amazing day tommorow even on limited runs so much pow
Dylanrobinson - Feb 27, 2010 - 11:33 PM
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Check them trying to dig the funicular rail track out today on Cairngorm...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0tTmJYwMCM
Crazy stuff.
I'm all booked up for next weekend
adverse - Feb 27, 2010 - 11:48 PM
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^^^Blimey that's mental (the snow, not your planned trip... )
stonie - Feb 28, 2010 - 12:19 PM
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Phil, the main roads are ok, we drove from Glenshee to Braemar thinking we could get across to Aviemore but the minor roads were closed, ended up having to drive to Elgin and then Inverness to join the A9. A 160 mile detour taking into account the numerous roads we drove up, only to find they were blocked 10 miles down the road.
stonie - Feb 28, 2010 - 12:19 PM
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Definitely worth the effort though.
adverse - Feb 28, 2010 - 01:09 PM
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That's exactly what we did, went the Braemar way but found it closed, though going the other way from Aviemore to Glenshee. The bottom way (so from Glenshee to Aviemore you head towards the A9 and drive north to Aviemore) is longer but much more likely to be open.
Flufball - Feb 28, 2010 - 05:03 PM
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Lived in Ayrshire up until last November, that was close enough to reach Glencoe and if you didn't have any time constraints you could reach Nevis fine, never tried the east coast.
Now that I'm located in Sheffield it's a tad more complicated but as far as hotels go, I'm headed up to Braehead's Travel Lodge around the 9th for a few days. That's close enough for me although there is always the risk of the roads being closed.
DavyMac - Mar 01, 2010 - 01:22 PM
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I was up at Glencoe on Saturaday and the roads were fine, I'm in Ayrshire and within 2 hours I was ready to hit the slopes.
Originally intended heading to Nevis but gondola wasn't running and was being assessed hourly so opted for Glencoe.
Thinkin gabout heading to Cairngorm or Nevis this week, come on the weekend.
StevieMcK - Mar 01, 2010 - 01:44 PM
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DavyMac wrote:
I was up at Glencoe on Saturaday and the roads were fine, I'm in Ayrshire and within 2 hours I was ready to hit the slopes.
Originally intended heading to Nevis but gondola wasn't running and was being assessed hourly so opted for Glencoe.
Thinkin gabout heading to Cairngorm or Nevis this week, come on the weekend.
Nevis Range was pretty special at the weekend. 4000ft of vertical from the summit to the carpark and some 8ft cornices along goose gully that you could easily pop off.
Here are some photos from Saturday.
Aftershock - Mar 01, 2010 - 03:24 PM
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Im heading to Glenshee next weekend, staying in perth with friends so not that far away from the slopes, im sure there are plenty of places to stay within an hour or 2 drive from glenshee, not too bad if your coming all that way up anyway
Dylanrobinson - Mar 01, 2010 - 03:38 PM
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StevieMcK wrote:
Good photo's
HarryCambs - Mar 01, 2010 - 04:53 PM
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Dylanrobinson wrote:
StevieMcK wrote:
Good photo's
Damn, I need to move back to Glasgow :'-( !
Ah, he has the same board as me!
dashie - Mar 01, 2010 - 05:37 PM
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I'll be somewhere on Fri, prob Glenshee.
May even do some solo riding on sat as I'm on my own all day in Glasgow and will be up early anyway
stonie - Mar 02, 2010 - 12:05 AM
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A quick clip in The Cairngorms on Sunday
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvcbCUMOlRY
philboarder - Mar 02, 2010 - 12:16 AM
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Lol awesome dont think id fancy riding my board across a car park
stonie - Mar 02, 2010 - 12:25 AM
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There was a thin dusting of the white stuff laid down with a shovel first.
gillaroo - Mar 04, 2010 - 03:13 PM
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Took a run up to Glencoe yesterday and the conditions were excellent. Good cover all over the mountain with only the flypaper shut due to Avalanche risk. Spring run was a chopped up mogul field but good fun. Haggis trap and canyon both had good cover although a bit scrapped in parts. Still a good few powder stashes to be found. You can board down to the car park, but it's a bit of a moss and rock obstacle course. With any luck the temps will stay low and the base will keep.
freestylepumper - Mar 04, 2010 - 04:07 PM
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I was there as well and well worth it. Run down was awesome, few mogul fields devolped but all in all awesome day ot. More snow and could be still there right to May this year
malabu22 - Mar 04, 2010 - 04:10 PM
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just a quick heads up on this, Is there a bus service from fort william to nevis range? cheers
gillaroo - Mar 04, 2010 - 04:33 PM
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Yeah - there's bus. Details on the web site.
http://snowsports.nevisrange.co.uk/how-to-get-here.asp
malabu22 - Mar 04, 2010 - 05:02 PM
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gillaroo wrote:
sweet, thanks
freestylepumper - Mar 04, 2010 - 06:01 PM
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If your getting train up check first as line might stil be closed. Found this on bbc website earlier
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/gla ... 194279.stm
aqua76 - Mar 04, 2010 - 10:46 PM
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Nevis here i come 
Heading home this weekend for my Dad's birthday but def gonna try get few hours in the snow - pictures look awesome!!!
freestylepumper - Mar 04, 2010 - 11:02 PM
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Hit the Coe, it was awesome as well and well closer to Troon!!!!
freestylepumper - Mar 04, 2010 - 11:06 PM
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Also mean to say, there was no sign of the supposed mysterious animal known as the "Arseholes at Glencoe", everyone was there having fun and chilling togeter as one massive entity. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
aqua76 - Mar 04, 2010 - 11:17 PM
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the drag lift there scares me tho!!!
freestylepumper - Mar 04, 2010 - 11:30 PM
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It scares you in what way. It's a pussy cat. In fact they all are
gillaroo - Mar 05, 2010 - 01:35 PM
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aqua76 wrote:
the drag lift there scares me tho!!!
Glencoe drags are pretty decent. The beginner one is pretty laid back and the T-bar up top is not exactly a comfortable ride, but at least it doesn't boot you off rapid at the start like a few of the ones at Avi / Glenshee do! Gotta get the hang of them if you wanna ride in Scotland.
Suppose you can always just ride the wee chair all day but that kinda limits the area.
StevieMcK - Mar 05, 2010 - 02:30 PM
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freestylepumper wrote:
Also mean to say, there was no sign of the supposed mysterious animal known as the "Arseholes at Glencoe", everyone was there having fun and chilling togeter as one massive entity. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Gotta agree with you there. I was up yesterday for a cheeky midweek shred and I thought the whole atmosphere has changed for the better since the new owner took over.
The fact it was bluebird didn't do any harm either.
keludm - Mar 15, 2010 - 05:15 PM
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My last trip to Glencoe was a bit of a bad one - grumpy bastards working down at the base station by the car park and sh1t of rocks introducing themselves to my new board. The weather was bloody great though and up top the lift guys were much cooler.
Bit of a tip for a place to stay if youre visiting Nevis or Glencoe - the Corran ferry inn is about half way in between the two, its cheap and the food comes in massive quantities. Call them on 01855 821235.
Shiply - Mar 17, 2010 - 06:41 PM
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Which time during the year is best for a snowboarding trip to Scotland? Have never been on a real holiday there before/
keludm - Mar 17, 2010 - 07:44 PM
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As soon as possible for this season:)
HarryCambs - Mar 18, 2010 - 08:58 AM
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Advise you go to glencoe for end of season, it tends to hold the snow bit longer than other resorts.
It will probably be open on April but starts getting thin by then.
Shiply - Mar 18, 2010 - 02:30 PM
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Thanks guys. Better requesting my holiday now eh ?
HarryCambs - Mar 18, 2010 - 04:17 PM
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Further info if you need:
If you want to stay on Glencoe the kings house hotel is just a mile up the road and the bus will stop there on request.
If you want to go to Aviemore, it has quite a few hostels and b&b and is easily acessible by public transport, both city link bus and scotrail trains. There is a shuttle bus service from town in front of the train station to the slopes. Same applies to Fort William to Nevis Range.
Snow tends to thin out in April and resorts in Scotland tend to have rocks sticking out in general, so hiring a board might be a good idea.
Do call the resort to check for conditions before going.
If riding fails you can always go hill wallking anyway