Photo by The Lecht 2090
Conquer anything this winter as you ski in Scotland! In this article, I’ll be sharing 8 great places to ski whilst you’re here in Scotland. With Scotland’s ever – changing weather, it’s important to have as many options as possible to ski at so that you can guarantee yourself a great day on the slopes.
I’ll tell you all about the many places closest to home for us here in Ballater, some further afield, and some skiing options you might never have thought of before! So, ready your skis and set yourself up to fly down the slopes this winter.
Table of Contents
Is alpine skiing possible in Scotland?
Alpine skiing is the technique that probably first comes to mind when you first think of the word “ski” – cruising down often steep slopes in the mountains. This is the most popular form of skiing today and there is plenty of fun to be had with it. So, where can you alpine ski?
The Lecht
The Lecht 2090 is one of the best places to ski in Scotland. Alpine skiing is the technique that probably first comes to mind when you first think of the word “ski” – cruising down often steep slopes in the mountains. This is the most popular form of skiing today and there is plenty of fun to be had with it. So, where can you alpine ski?
Best time to go: January – March
Entry Price: Adult – £23-£29, Child – £16-£19
Kit Hire: There is kit for hire at the Lecht’s own ski lodge, you can reserve items in advance online.
Best place for coffee and cake: The new Alpine Lodge bar in the ski centre is great for a midday break, serving fantastic hot chocolate, coffee and cake.
Glenshee Ski Centre
Spread across three valleys, this is the biggest ski resort in Scotland. Furthermore, it boasts the most varied terrain you will find in the UK for skiing and snowboarding, perfect if you’ve got some experience with skiing or if you’re looking to improve your skills. Glenshee’s Glas Maol is considered by many people to be the best piste in Scotland.
When to go: January- March. Avoid weekends if possible due to weekend crowds.
Entry Price: Adult – £29, Child – £19
Kit Hire: The resort has on site kit hire which you can book online.
Best place for coffee and cake: There are three cafes at the base station for a warm break from the slopes.
Why not stay with us in Ballater?
The village of Ballater is well placed for getting to The Lecht and Glenshee, it’s almost like having them both in your own backyard. Whichever gets the best snow when you’re planning to ski (which you can check with their webcams) you can jump in the car and travel to in only 40 minutes. If you like the sound of being able to get to two major ski resorts so easily, why not take a look at our self catered cottages in the heart of Ballater? We can definitely recommend staying here if you want to find places to ski in Scotland.
Cairngorm Mountain Resort
Cairngorm Mountain Resort has the largest number of season ticket holders out of any Scottish resort. It’s no wonder that it’s so popular, with incredible views of the Cairngorms National Park. It’s known for having the most reliable snow in Scotland, with snowfall lasting for months at a time, Cairngorm Mountain Resort can often be counted on when others can’t
Best time to go: March or April.
Entry Price: Adults – £33.50, Child – £20
Kit Hire: On site kit hire, which you can reserve online, or one of the many ski shops on the main street of Aviemore such as Ellis Brigham.
Best place for coffee and cake: There are plenty of cafes to visit in Aviemore. I would recommend the Coffee Corner, or Druie Cafe for a nice coffee and cake.
Glencoe Mountain
Glencoe, originally known as the White Corrie, is the oldest ski resort in Britain. Another great place to ski in Scotland. A relatively small resort, but well formed and packed with variety. There is something for everyone here: a freeride area providing half-pipes and jumps, gentle beginner slopes and Scotland’s most intense black run, the Flypaper.
Best time to go: December – March
Day Passes: Adult – £27- £35, Child – £20 – £22
Kit Hire: There is on site equipment hire.
Best place for coffee and cake: Glencoe Mountain Cafe operates on site, with an upgraded new building coming soon.
Nevis Range Mountain Experience
Nevis Range only opened in 1989, making it a very new contender compared with the other resorts in Scotland, the earliest being Glencoe (1956). More experienced riders will call this resort home, with excellent off piste terrain and challenging ungroomed runs to sink your teeth into.
Best time to go: December – March
Ticket Prices: Adult – £35.50, Child – £23.50
Kit Hire: There is on site kit hire.
Best place for coffee and cake: The unique Pine Marten cafe nearby offers a big menu from cake to burgers and any kind of drink you might like. They also have a really nice view of the mountains from the cafe and their whiskey range at the bar is unbeatable. Definitely worth a visit!
Nordic Skiing in Scotland
Most people would never consider cross country skiing whilst on holiday, but it can be a whole lot of fun! If you’re looking for something different to try, this will be worth your time.
Nordic and cross country skiing are two terms that are often used interchangeably, which is wrong. So what is the difference?
Nordic skiing is a general term which refers to any type of skiing where only the toe is attached to the ski, rather than the whole boot. This allows for movement uphill or on flat ground. Cross country skiing is a type of nordic skiing where skiers travel across mostly flat ground, using only their own movement to propel them forward. Other forms include skating and alpine touring. Nordic skiing, originally a form of transport, has a long history.
As well as alpine skiing, there are plenty of places close to Ballater where you can try out some nordic skiing.
Braemar & Ballater
Braemar, a half hour drive from Ballater, is an ideal place to do some beginner Nordic skiing. The official Braemar website suggests a variety of potential routes, such as the family friendly trips like Derry Lodge from Linn of Dee, or Loch Challater from the A93 crossing the Cairngorm plateau (certainly worth seeing!). Further down the valley closer to Ballater is Ballochbuie Forest on the Balmoral Estate, and on the other side of Ballater is Glen Tanar, both are great for Nordic skiing too. If you’re looking for something gentle, you could even ski across the local golf courses!
Best time to go: December – February
Ticket Prices: Free!
Kit Hire: Kit can be hired from Braemar mountain sports, where they can also give you more information on the routes nearby and the best ways to get there.
Best place for coffee and a cake: The Bothy, serving wonderful hot drinks and a bite to eat, is located right next to Braemar Mountain Sports, overlooking the river. It has a twin in Ballater so if you love what they serve, you can always grab a bite close to one of our cottages!
Glenshee - one of the places to ski in Scotland
Roughly a half hour drive from Ballater. This is another great place to Nordic ski. There are a number of tours to do there that are higher and more challenging than those in Braemar. These are considered alpine touring, so renting slightly different types of skis would be necessary. One tour, starting from the Glenshee Ski Centre, conquers three munros within it’s route!
You go from Glenshee to Glas Maol, over Cairn of Claise and then Cairn an Tuirc, descending afterwards back to the road. Another tour you can do from Glenshee (a little easier than the first) starts from the Dalmuzie hotel car park, ascending for some time and then descending down burn lines to the ruins of Glenlochsie Lodge.
Best time to go: December – February
Ticket Prices: Free!
Kit Hire: You can pick up your kit on the way to Glenshee at Braemar mountain sports. Kit can be hired for up to a week so you have plenty of time to explore the snow!
Best place for coffee and a cake: There are cafes at Glenshee ski centre to visit, or if you’re closer to the Spittal of Glenshee, the Wee House of Glenshee will take good care of you.
Huntly Nordic and Outdoor Centre
Photo by Peter Danka
If you’d like a little help getting started with Nordic skiing, there are plenty of tuition options to get you up to speed at Huntly. They offer cross country and roller skiing and are Britain’s only purpose-built all weather facility, meaning you can ski all year round with or without snow! Plus, they’re only an hour’s drive from Ballater.
Known for: Cross country skiing and roller skiing
Best time to go: All year round.
Ticket Prices: Adult – £10-£17, Child – £5-£12
Kit Hire: There is kit hire available on site for reasonable prices.
Best place for coffee and cake: The Merry Kettle in Huntly is a cute cafe where you can find yourself a hot drink and a bite to eat.
Ready to plan your skiing holiday in Scotland?
There we have it! I hope this has been helpful for planning your next skiing holiday in Scotland. Now you know some of the places to ski in Scotland.
Since three of the main skiing resorts are located in the Cairngorms, we have put together a more in depth guide to skiing in the Cairngorms for you which is worth a read! If you want to do more than skiing, have a look through our guides to walking in and around Ballater.
