Did you know that the Cairngorms were the training grounds of 18 of the world’s winter Olympians? That’s right! You’re in the right place if you’re feeling like a champ and want to ski like an Olympian. Or maybe you’re just looking for reasons to go skiing in the Cairngorms and wondering what ski resorts you can go to.
You can take your pick from the Glenshee Ski Centre, the Lecht 2090, and Cairngorm Mountain as your outdoor playground for winter sports. In this article, I’ll be sharing their overviews that will give you reasons to go skiing in the Cairngorms this winter.
Let’s get into it.
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Skiing in the Cairngorms National Park
The Cairngorms National Park is Britain’s largest national park with an area covering 4,528 sqm wide and summits that reach up to 900 metres in height. It’s no wee park for sure which is why it’s able to offer so many wintersports to visitors. It’s located at Grantown-on-Spey in the northeast.
The snowiest time of the year in the Cairngorms begins in November and lasts until April and even May. Check out the webcams to see if the snow has fallen so you can start skiing in the Cairngorms.
There’s always something for everyone at the Cairngorms. So even if you’re just a beginner, there are plenty of nursery slopes to try out. Seasoned skiers, on the other hand, will always find trails to blaze as they discover new sides of the mountain or rediscover old favorites. Read more to find out about skiing at Cairngorms through Scotland’s ski resorts below.
Beginner Friendly Skiing At The Lecht
The Lecht ski centre is a resort that’s best for a family holiday and those just beginning to ski. What makes it friendly for beginners is its slope called the “magic carpet”. Its width gives them enough space to practice new techniques while its gentle slope makes it easy to gain confidence. Moreover, it’s easier to get back up again if they trip.
Additionally, families can go out for meals, choose equipment for hire, and enjoy lounge areas at the Lecht’s day lodge. A skiing holiday at Scotland can’t get any better than this.
Getting there is easy as the Lecht ski centre is just beside the village of Tomintoul and is a short drive away from cosy Ballater.
Challenging Black Runs at Glenshee
To tell the truth, the journey to Glenshee is part of the experience just as much as skiing. To get there, you can take the snow roads, a 90-mile adventure that will take you on a scenic winter drive from Blairgowrie to Grantown-on-Spey. If you don’t have time for the long road, don’t worry. Glenshee is only a 30 minute drive from Ballater, where our holiday cottages are.
Skiing at Glenshee ski centre is for the brave. It’s black runs, the Glas Maol and the Tiger are Scotland’s longest and steepest runs with lengths of 2km and 2.5km respectively, making them popular slopes to conquer by avid skiers. Novices can also have a go, as the resort has nursery slopes too
Challenge Accepted: Skiing in the Cairngorm Mountain Resort
Saving the best for last is the Cairngorm Mountain Resort, home to the challenging Core na Ciste and 6 different red runs. It’s no wonder the winter Olympians trained at Cairngorms because the slopes will really sharpen your skills!
Although Cairngorm Mountain is known for its difficult skiing trails, everyone is more than welcome as the resort also has green and blue runs for beginners.
Aside from the type of runs, Cairngorm Mountain also has slopes with the longest lasting snow. You can go skiing here up to mid-April and May in a good year. In fact, you can just keep on coming back for more anytime during the skiing season.
Cairngorm Mountain is also accessible from Ballater via the A939. Arrive in not more than an hour and a half. Enjoy the scenic drive while on the way! Skiing at Cairngorm Mountain and driving there will make for an incredible winter holiday.
Skiing in The Cairngorms and More
Telling you all about skiing in the Cairngorms hopefully inspired you to visit Scotland. Here are additional comprehensive guides from locations to equipment to get you started on your winter adventure:
If you’re into walking more than skiing, you can discover inspiring walking routes in Ballater here. Whatever you decide to do during the holidays, I’m sure you’ll enjoy! And you’ll surely discover that “only in Scotland can travelling so little make such a big difference”.
