Skiing in Scotland at February half term?

[Gem13]

I don't know much about skiing (went once and that was enough for me!) but DH is desperate to go next year and DS is equally desperate to see snow.

They are restricted to February half term because DS will be at school and as I will have a 6 week old or thereabouts baby then I was wondering about looking closer to home (I feel anxious about him being away from me and DD and D? and in a foreign country) so Scotland seems ideal.

The idea is for them to get 'cheap' flights and have about 5 days with DS in a kids club for some of the afternoon while DH skies.

But will there be decent skiing then and is there anywhere anyone could recommend?

Thanks.

For good snow, weather and views - and not too far from an airport offering cheap flights I'd recommend Flaine in France (probably the closest big resort to Geneva). DH and DS went there at beginning of Easter hols and raved about it - despite the modern architecture.

Thanks Lilymaid. How old was your DS when he went? I'm concerned about the lack of English in a kid's club.

Anyone with experience of Scotland?

Although I'm Scottish, live in Glasgow and a keen skier, I've never skiied in Scotland! . it's just not reliable neough - and then very crowded at theweekends when there is snow (or so I am told)

Skiing could be great in Febraury - it could also be non-existent, expecially for beginners.

Aviemore or Ben Nevis wold be the choice fo places to go. Your dh would still need to hire a car to get to either location and to get to ski slopes. The Hilton in Aviemore is supposed tobe very good for kids.

I can only comment on Meribel re kids clubs, but the ESH runs a very good "nursery" (Club Piou Piou) for kids up to about 6. where they do speak English to the English speaking kids, although they are mostly French kids in there. For older kids, you can put them in to ski school for the whole day (persoanlly wouldn't used ESF - the French Ski School - for ski instruction as the classes are too big - would use one of the "international" schools instead).

Dd started at 4.5 - Magic in Motion (an English speaking ski school) in the mornings and Club Piou Piou (ESF) in the afternoon. At the Club Piou Piou they get to play around on skis in a snow "plaground", and get some low level isntruction - and this year (when he was 5.5) they even had them out on the slopes and I have to admit, despite my misgivings with ESF, he made more progress with them than he did with Magic in Motion.

Yes - used to ski at Glenshee years ago.
It will be FREEZING, and windy, IIRC!
Aviemore has some good stuff for kids though.

I forgot about the wind - and the rain! .

We have friends who are ski instructors out in Meribal but who spend summers in Aviemore - and other Magic in Motion istrucotrs are also Scottish. Every time the weather is bad, they say it is like Scotland (windy and/or wet)

.... and people wonder why I have never been tempted to ski in Scotland?!

I have been skiing a couple of times at Glenshee years ago, Can be very varied, we had one day of white out blizzards and another day of warm sunshine and we were all in t-shirts. Others days the snow can be very patchy even on the tows. Not sure if likes of Aviemore make much use of arificial snow machines, still needs to be cold enough though.

Great if you live within a couple of hours drive and go for the day if the weather is right, don't think I would plan a holiday around just skiing in Scotland. Ok if you are happy to do other sports like climbing or mountain boarding.

I wouldn't bank on snow in Scotalnd at Easter tbh. Or on the roads being open if there is snow!

Could you go at Easter and all go if you stayed in an apartment slightly lower than the big resorts, and they caught a lift up each day? It's usually quite warm and sunny in the valleys by then. Have a look at somewhere like Samoens or Morzine which would give you somewhere to wander around if you wanted during the day. You could even drive out (unless you live a long way north it wouldn't take much longer than driving to the highlands!) so you could just take all your baby paraphenalia with you.

Thank you all for your replies. Scotland is out then!

I was just trying to please DH and DS. TBH I think that it was probably a bit over ambitious anyway. I seem to remember the 6 week mark is where you are on your knees with the lack of sleep so it's probably better to hang onto DH then.

I'll come back to this thread next year and look at the suggestions for the other resorts... and keep my fingers crossed it snows in England this winter!