Scotland

[fenulla]

Anyone been skiing in Scotland? Thoughts?

Yes aviemore, expensive and snow not guaranteed but plenty to do if there's no snow or blizzards. What are you planning to look at.

Just thought it would be a fun winter treat
i hadn't banked on it being expensive compared to overseas if I'm honest

Very much beginners

It's a big risk to book ahead, far better to wait and see if there is snow and go last minute if there is... it's not as reliable as the usual ski resorts elsewhere!

There was a thread about skiing in Scotland a while ago which had some useful information: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/ski-snowboarding/4994660-scotland-skiing?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share

Not sure you would get a ‘skiing’ experience there. As someone in the other thread says, it’s more of an outdoor holiday in Scotland with a bit of skiing thrown in , depending on the weather.

Thank you
thats really helpful

The Cairngorms has a funicular railway which takes you up the top of the slopes. There is a restaurant/cafe at the top. I haven't been skiing in years but live close by. The snow is not guaranteed. You basically have to check daily to see which slopes are open and which ski lifts are running. There's also Glenshee which is good, but I wouldn't book a skiing holiday in Scotland in advance. Like a pp said, you would have to go last minute.

I wouldn’t go with the aim of just skiing if you’re booking well in advance as the snow really isn’t guaranteed and it’s common for slopes and lifts to be closed, particularly on the lower beginner slopes. If you happen to be nearby and there’s decent snow then it’s more the sort of thing you can do impromptu as a bonus. When there’s good snow then everyone heads there and it can be hard to get equipment hire and lessons.

I’m an experienced skier and have had a few days in Scotland when I lived up there. Unless you are local I really wouldn’t plan a Scottish ski holiday. It was expensive and the conditions weren’t brilliant.

I learnt to ski in Scotland. It's a brilliant place to learn because it helps you realise that a bad day in the Alps is better than a "good" day in Scotland.

You really can't plan a ski trip to Scotland in advance. You literally have to drop everything when there's enough snow for the lifts to open and not enough to result in the snow gates being closed. We had a school trip "skiing" to Aviemore that consisted of walking on snowless hills and mountain biking but no skiing.

You can be lucky and get a nice day skiing. But my over-riding memories are of zero visibility, ice, slush, rocks, mud and horizontal sleet.

If you like outdoorsy stuff in general and won't be too gutted to not ski then Aviemore and surrounds have loads of other activities. But don't count on being able to ski.

No and a thousand times no. Much better off driving to the alps at Easter. Sunweb does cheap apartments with lift pass included although if you’re all absolute beginners, you might not need a full pass.

Thank you to everyone who. Really helpful feedback

@fenulla if you can share budget, kids’ age, time period and where you live, we can help you find a good value ski holiday ;) It csn be expensive but isn’t necessarily and if you don’t know if it’s for you, you can mix it up with other activities.

Learning to ski in Scotland nearly put me off it for life OP. Don’t do it! And I say that as a proud Scot.