Skiing & Snowboarding in Scotland
The Scottish Highlands are renowned for their rugged and wild landscapes, and although the area is popular in the summertime for adventure travel, it also hosts five outdoor ski resorts to enjoy in the winter months. If the conditions are right, it’s one of the most off the beaten path experiences you can have if you travel for snow.
For how to get to each resort and where to stay if you are planning a trip north, check out our guide below.
Close to our old stomping grounds, the Glenshee Ski Centre is the largest ski area of the five in Scotland. You’ll be rewarded for the remote drive with incredible views over the Cairngorms National Park.
What to expect
As you may expect, Scotland doesn’t have the reliability of conditions like the Alps or North America nor the size of resorts or hills. However, when the region does get snow, the experience can be absolutely worth it.
Instead of planning in advance, track the forecasts around your resort of choice and make the trip if conditions are looking favourable. The other option is to book ahead but have the expectation that you could be doing activities off the slopes - luckily, all of the resorts are ideally based in some of Scotland’s best outdoor adventure hotspots.
Know before you go that all five resorts have the laid-back atmosphere of the Highlands, they are locally run with well-loved facilities. The terrain is varied and the runs exposed and it’s a great experience to have for the skiers and boarders who aren’t looking for the five-star treatment but are simply making the most of the snow.
Resorts at a Glance
Glenshee:
22 lifts, 36 runs
Check out Glenshee’s piste map here, and their live webcam here.
Lecht Ski Centre:
13 lifts, 23 runs
Check out the Lecht’s piste map here, and their live webcam here.
Cairngorm Mountain Resort:
12 lifts, 35 runs
Check out Cairngorm Mountain Resort piste map here, and their live webcam here.
Glencoe Mountain Resort:
8 lifts, 20 runs
Check out the Glencoe’s piste map here, and their live webcam here.
Nevis Range Mountain Resort:
12 lifts, 35 runs
Check out the Nevis Range’s piste map here, and their live webcam here.
Glenshee ski centre
How to get here
Glenshee Ski Centre is located in the heart of the Cairngorms on the A93 Old Military Road, just south of Braemar.
Driving is the best option to get here. If coming from the north/east, check the Braemar snow gates to make sure you have access to the A93. The road can be narrow, undulating and twisting whichever way you’re coming from, so ensure you have winter tyres fitted depending on the conditions.
For maps: the postcode is AB35 5XU.
If you don’t drive, the centre does have a Facebook page, check them out for lift shares. You can also look out for the Edinburgh based Travel Agency that offers shuttles to/ from Glenshee from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Stirling. Check them out here.
Where to stay
There are no accomodation options at the resort itself, meaning you’ll need to source accomodation from one of the nearest towns; Braemar (9 mi) or Ballater (25.7 mi) to the north/ east, or the Spittal of Glenshee (6 mi), Bridge of Cally (18.6 mi) or Blairgowrie (24.6 mi) to the south. Each of these towns have multiple locally run bnbs and hotel options. Use your preferred accomodation booking site to find the best fit for your budget.
Lecht Ski Centre
How to get here
The Lecht is located on the A939 between Cock Bridge and Tomintoul in the Cairngorms National Park.
Driving is the only option as public transport is not offered in the area. Have the right kit for making the journey out, including winter tyres, as the roads to/from the centre are narrow and undulating.
For maps, the postcode is AB36 8YP.
Where to stay
The Lecht is without a doubt the most remote of the five resorts, with the backroads leading into and out of the resort an experience in itself as they traverse the Grampian mountain range. Check out options in Tomintoul to the north (6.7 mi), which is conveniently located at the edge of the Speyside Malt Whisky Trail, or Ballater to the south (17.9 mi), which hosts a number of great cafes and wintery walks.
If you’re a snowboarder, get ready to use the button (poma) and t-bar lifts at all of these resorts, which outnumber their charlift counterparts.
Cairngorm Mountain Resort
How to get here
Cairngorm Mountain Resort is the northermost resort located in the Cairngorms, situated just outside of the town of Aviemore.
If you’re driving in from the north or south, follow the A9 to Aviemore for the most direct route. The resort is located just 11 miles southeast from town centre, take the B970 via Rothiemurchus and Glenmore. For maps, the postcode is PH22 1RB.
Unlike the other resorts in the National Park, this one can be accessed by public transport! Multiple CityLink buses and trains connect with Aviemore, and then hop on to the local Stagecoach 37 to get from town centre to the resort.
Where to stay
There are loads of accomodation options in Aviemore, Rothiemurchus, Coylumbridge and Glenmore depending on what you’re looking for. Stay in town centre if you’re hoping to head out pub crawling after the slopes. There are multiple locally run bnbs and guest houses and multiple Macdonald resort hotels in the area (which are dated but reasonably priced).
If you’re hoping for more of an unplugged or rustic experience, check out a few of the guest houses down the B970 or opt for a caravan park if you’re bringing along your home-on-wheels.
Keen to know what else to see and do in the Highlands? Check out our guide below
Glencoe Mountain Resort
How to get here
Located on the A82, the Glencoe Mountain Resort sits 13 miles east from Glencoe township on the iconic West Highland Way at Kingshouse, and is shadowed by the Buachaille Etive Mòr.
Whether coming from the north or south, follow the A82. For maps, the postcode is PH49 4HZ.
By public transport, Citylink and trains service Fort William to the north, and you can take the Scottish Citylink bus 914 (toward Glasgow) and get off at Chairlift Road End stop.
Where to stay
At the resort, there is camping accomodation on-site in the form of micro-lodges (photo below), electric hook-up points and camping plots with shared bathrooms. These small lodges are one of our go-to options for the summer, and are open throughout their winter season if you’re wanting a no-frills experience.
If you’re hoping for something more upscale, the Kingshouse Hotel across the road from the resort is also one of our go-tos for comfort and luxury. Further afield, we recommend checking out the Clachaig Inn and the guesthouses in Glencoe (13.3 mi) and Ballachulish (14.4 mi).
Nevis Range
How to get here
Located only 7 miles from Fort William, Nevis Range is the most accessible of all the Scottish ski resorts.
Driving from Fort William, follow Nevis Range Mountain Resort PH33 6SQ in maps.
If you’ve taken public transport to Fort William, by either bus or rail, you can take the Shiel Bus 41 from town centre to the mountain resort.
Where to stay
At the resort itself, there are a few accomodation options opening as of this year (2023), including a hotel and caravan park if you’re hoping to get the most of your time on the mountain.
If you’re hoping to have a variety of food and drink options off the mountain after the lifts close, there are loads of accomodation options in Fort William, from small bnbs and guest houses to larger hotels. Use your preferred accomodation booking site to find the best fit for your budget. Centrally located within the Highlands for outdoor adventure, Fort William is a great place to be in proximity to loads of other activities if the snowfall doesn’t go your way, so it’s arguably the safest option for planning a trip.
For adventure travellers looking for an off the beaten track experience, skiing and snowboarding in Scotland can help you to make the most of the UK winters.
Happy Travels,
Sam
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