Scotland skiing

[Stranger3]

hello. I have to teenage DDs (16 and 14) who love skiing, as does DH. I also have a 2 yr old. I am unfortunately unable to travel abroad this year as my passport expired so i am renewing but it wont happen on time for the feb half term. I have looked at a few threads regarding Aviemore and understand regarding the weather and lack of reliable snow. But would anyone have any suggestions, if we were to brave it, for good places to stay? I have been researching but cant seem to find any hotels which are ski in/ski out- does that just not exist there? I need to be close to the slopes because DH and I likely to take turns skiing and i cant drive! Unless there are transfers available. I have only ever skied in Europe so would appreciate any advice. The options I am seeing do not seem amazingly compelling for skiing specifically but may be i am not lookign in the right place. Thank you so much

There are no hotels near the ski slopes. Accommodation is in Aviemore itself which, from memory, is about a 20 minute drive from the ski centre. My impression is that everyone drives there. I think there could be shuttle buses from Aviemore but I have never used them. At the ski centre there is a cafe but not a lot else.

Thank you @Chemenger - that is what i was suspecting but just wanted to check i wasnt missing anything. Is there anywhere in Aviemore you would recommend staying in? There doesnt seem to be anywhere with particularly great reviews - or may be i am just looking too late….
Thank you for your help!

Scottish skiing holidays are nothing like a European or North American skiing holiday, they are like a Scottish Outdoor holiday with a bit of snow thrown in as an extra if the conditions are good. The snow conditions are very variable, sometimes quite icy and the wind is often bitter!
The scenery around Aviemore is lovely and the weather is drier than a lot Scotland as it's sheltered by mountains but the snow only lingers at altitude so no skiing down into the valley. There is a public bus that runs regularly from the town to the ski centre.
Accomodation and food is varied with some lovely but a lot is more aimed at walkers and mountain bikers as a market than skiers used to more luxury.
I think you've left it a bit late to find a nice air BnB or lodge to be honest.
You might get lucky if you look outside Aviemore and travel in.

How about going to Europe at Easter? Would your passport renewal be processed in time for that? It falls at the end of March this year.

thank you both @stringbean and @Wbeezer. I am realising it is a very different experience from our usual skiing holiday and while i can see it can be lovely i need to figure out if the elder DDs might enjoy a city break instead- which they might if we dont end up doing much skiing. Easter may work - mine is a complicated passport situation as it is a foreign passport and i can’t travel to home country to renew so a bit of a nightmare. But worst case can send the elder DDs with DH - just wanted to find a way for us to go together…

its a little sad but it does also look like i have left things too late. Someone mentioned carrbridge to me - looks so lovely but i almost wonder if better visited in the summer! :)

thank you again for your advice

I’m not joking, my husband sent his passport off on Monday for renewal and he received his new passport this morning in the post. It might be worth getting your passport sorted this weekend as the turnaround has been so fast. He just paid for the normal service, not fast track.

Oh sorry- just seen your last post. Ignore me!

I’d look at Easter in Europe

i have just renewed DC’s passport and it came back in 9 days

My husbands came really quickly too.

@Stranger3 Carrbridge is just a short drive from Aviemore, there are lots of nice wee places near Aviemore but they can be a bit quiet in the off season. I like Granton on Spey.

My dh went a few year ago. No snow at all. He said it was lovely but not a ski holiday.

I could be wrong but I think most Scottish skiing is done by people who live within a couple of hours drive of the slopes who go for the day, or a weekend, when the skiing is good. We certainly used to go for the day from Edinburgh to Glenshee when there was snow and the forecast wasn’t horizontal rain or gale force winds.

I’d keep an eye on the in person renewal spots at the closest passport office to you. They do pop up. It’s certainly far more likely than finding ski in ski out accommodation in Scotland…

Can you book an in person appt to get your passport renewed?

Ski-ing in Scotland is a local hobby, you just head up where there is some.

London is probably your best city break option for Feb half term - maximum number of inside things to do.

OP has said she is not British, hence the passport delay.

Ski-ing in Scotland is a local hobby, you just head up where there is some.

This in spades. You check the snow report before you decide to go. Be prepared for short runs, ice, high winds and crowds. It is definitely not like skiing in the Alps. Instead aim for an Easter skiing break at a high altitude resort in France, with guaranteed snow.

We stayed in. Coylumbridge when we did skiing at Aviemore. It was just a short drive kids loved the hotel though. I would strongly recommend you check what’s working before you go. When we were there the transport up to the top was broken also the snow machine was broken. Skiing is less fun when you have to carry your skis and walk up a little bit of icy hill. There weren’t proper barriers at the bottom just that orange emergency fencing stuff.

I booked lessons for the kids and I but no one really enjoyed it.

thank you so much everyone for your advice - sorry i am slow coming back. I think you are all right to wait for Easter. There is no way, sadly, my passport issues will be sorted in a week but they’re a chance for end March.
We are on London so i was thinking about the sleeper train to Edinburgh - kids have never been to Scotland!!

Just came on to agree that Scottish skiers tend to just go for the day or weekend when the forecast is good. Although I did have a week's cross- country skiing holiday in Tomintoul once back in the late 80s when the winters were colder and there was good snow! It was really fun, other Scottish skiing experiences have been very varied from the sublime to the terrifying and often a real test of resilience!

it sounds amazing @wbeezer - i would have actually loved a week of cross country skiing in a cold winter as grew up doing that for PE!!! But not sure the kids would appreciate it as much as i would. And it makes sense that it needs to be more spontaneous and depending on weather….Sigh.

other Scottish skiing experiences have been very varied from the sublime to the terrifying and often a real test of resilience!

Yeah, we have some friends who live near Perth and are keen skiers. They head up for a day if the forecast is looking good, but even they (very hardy, outdoorsy, all the right gear) say that skiing in Scotland is not for the faint-hearted 😂

I learned to snowboard in Scotland many moons ago. I lived in Glasgow though so it was a weekend thing. It nearly put me off skiing for life until my now DH took me to Austria... ahhh sunshine, blue skies, apres, snow, heated seats!! Definitely not for the faint hearted.

i would have actually loved a week of cross country skiing in a cold winter as grew up doing that for PE!!!

I started out cross country skiing in Scotland. I quickly progressed to ski mountaineering which was far more suitable for the variable Scottish conditions. Cross country skis on sheet ice or snow with the consistency of wet sugar isn’t much fun.

I'd agree with the comments Scottish skiing is very unpredictable, either not enough snow or too much wind.
Global warming isn't helping.
Its best done with a weather forecast in hand.

The venicular at Aviemore has got issues so the only uplift is a drag tow.

I swear I've got PTSD from having to use a T-bar as a beginner snowboarder. 🤣