Scotland is well known to be a mountainous region with many of its cities and towns are actually perched up on top of hills and mountains or just beside it. This makes for the perfect place to ski during the winter months. In fact, Scotland boasts in having the top ski locations that you will find in the entire United Kingdom. The ski centers of Scotland are accessible from all of Scotland’s cities.
They offer the best skiing opportunities whether you are beginner or seasoned skier or snowboarder looking for his next adventure. Scotland offers some of the best scenery from the majestic Highlands to the beautiful views of Aberdeenshire; it truly is the place to go to ski and see the sights.
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular ski resorts in Scotland.
Lecht Ski Centre
Located in the stunning Eastern Cairngorms, Lecht Ski Centre is found at 2,090 feet above sea level and situated in the middle of Scotland’s largest National Park. This resort has been operating since the 1970s, but it has quickly grown from a one ski-tow to a Highland activity center with 20 maintained ski runs and 14 lifts. The Lecht is considered by many as one of Scotland’s top ski resort and is accessible via the charming picturesque Scottish road, the A939.
This playground of sorts offers many enjoyable outdoor activities both during summer and winter. They also have on-site snow-making facilities so that they can offer some of the smoothest and most consistent snows of any resort. Some equipment can be hired online or at the center but it is advisable to do so ahead of time as there are really high demands and you won’t want to be left out in the cold.
However, they don’t rent ski and snowboard boots so bring your own. You can review some good options here. Clothing for skiing can also be bought at the ski shop, they have a wide variety of ski and snowboard jackets and pants to purchase if you don’t have proper ski clothing.
It is advisable to do your homework ahead of time before buying. The center also has a ski school and provides a range of training for beginners and for honing your ski skills.
You really don’t have to go far to experience some of the best ski slopes that the country has to offer. You just need to head off to Scotland and visit some of these sites and then you can kick back, relax and have some fun skiing.
Glenshee Ski Resort
Glenshee ski resort is the largest ski center in the United Kingdom and covers an area of 2,000 acres that extends across 4 mountains and three valleys boasting up to 21 lifts and tows.
Glenshee takes its name from the Gaelic, “Glen of the Fairies” which perfectly describes the kind of magical experience skiers and snowboarders experience on this slope. The resort offers of up to 36 choices for ski runs that is composed of 40 kms of pisted run. The longest run, GlasMaol, actually extends to a whopping 2 kms of skiing. Glenshee also use snow-making facilities so that the center stays open longer during past the winter months.
Glenshee has been operating since the 1930s where the lift service was only run by two tractors. Later on, with the help of the Dundee Ski Club, the resort had its first proper tow. Today, Glenshee has a very modern and almost Alpine-like feel. If you are looking for a place to enjoy your winter vacation then Glenshee is definitely one of the best options
Glencoe Mountain
The Glencoe Mountain Resort is situated near the natural beauty of Rannoch Moor and offers a breathtaking views of the iconic Buachaille Etive Mor. There is an onsite camp area where they have a large camping area, hook-ups and lodges. During summer, they offer chairlift rides to mountain bike trails, hiking and climbing, photography, etc. However, during the winter this place automatically becomes the center for skiing, sledging, snowboarding and avalanche rescue training.
The Glencoe Mountains boast in having some of the longest and steepest ski runs available in Scotland. Established in 1956, Glencoe has always had the reputation of being the venue of choice for the more experienced skier and snowboarder. It has some of the best runs available including the famous flypaper which is considered UK’s steepest black run.