More challenging and serious terrain in one of the most stunning locations in the country. Here at Cairngorm we welcome snow sports touring and are re-introducing a Touring … Gully Skiing and steep descents on the famous North Face, as well as some moderately steep bowls on CMD. The easy part is jumping in the van and heading to the hills once the decision is made, but it’s always worth following the updated forecast right up until the last minute incase a better opportunity appears elsewhere. The Forestry Commission have opened a number of car parks for single night stays but this has not offset the damage caused by companies such as Camping in the Forest who have refused to open their Scottish sites. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The CIC Hut offers the option of a multiday trip without returning to the car park. In winter temperatures are generally lower than in other areas of the UK. The return would be a skin back up the side of the road, or a lift if you are fortunate enough to have access to a second car (or can get someone to pick you up). From our base in Aviemore we can … This is the perfect time to travel by campervan (as long as you’re prepared for winter conditions on the roads). When touring Scotland by car (or camper or bike), your route can vary in length; trips can be as short or as long as you like. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The best lift-served sidecountry in Scotland. Winter is a very different story to summer in Scotland and unless conditions are exceptional on a weekend, car parks are normally quiet until mid March. Mellow ski tours with easy access directly from the A9. Intro to Ski Mountaineering #Ski Mountaineering. Having recently converted a van himself, he’s a Winterised member and is the founder of British Backcountry with ski and mountain qualifications that make Bear Grylls look like a rank amateur adventurer. We starting looking into ski touring (or backcountry as it’s also known) when we returned from our first motorhome ski trip. This never influences our opinion and it never negatively impacts the price you pay for any product or service. It’s also possible to visit Loch Coire an Lochain by skiing around the West side of the crags. If you wish to ski the South side of Ben Nevis it is possible to park in Glen Nevis and ascend the tourist path, then descend the Red Burn. One of the best ways to see, and ski in Scotland is from a motorhome or campervan. Ski Touring in Scotland is the best way to see the hills in winter. A more interesting descent is the West side which takes you almost to the shore of Loch Ericht with stunning views down to Ben Alder across the water. Most winters it is possible to have a lengthy descent towards Coire Gabhail (aka the Lost Valley), twisting and turning around boulders and following stream lines. Ski touring in the Cairngorms and elsewhere in Scotland takes place in winter and early spring, and is best when days are longer, from February to April. Glencoe and Glenshee each two hours away, and Lecht is about 75 minutes from Inverness. Many of the reasons for using an awning on a snowbound campsite are the same as in summer conditions, The Guide to Gas for Motorhome and Caravan Skiers. The climate in Scotland is characterised by strong tendencies of changeable weather. There are other options on either side of the car park further down the hill, but they aren’t well suited for larger vehicles. Discover the world, reconnect with nature and enjoy a truly memorable experience! Wind transported snow can close the road quickly. Resorts and crowds are smaller, and you will find a cheerful, polite and relaxed atmosphere. Winterised also participates in other selected affiliate programs. There are numerous descents to be made on both sides of the ski centre. Winterised is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. © 2021 Copyright Winterised. Yes. The high massif of the Cairngorms is the ideal venue for ski touring. If you wish to venture further then you could do a lot worse than plan a trip out to Beinn Udlamain, taking in A’ Mharconaiche on the way home. Mellow ski tours with short challenging section if desired. It is also vital to know if the Ben Lawers road is clear of snow before attempting to drive up, as many vehicles get stuck there every year and block the road for others. These cookies do not store any personal information. OFF PISTE & SKI TOUR SKILLS – SCOTLAND BRUSH UP ON YOUR OWN DOORSTEP! We decided to team up with new friends Nienke and Michael, both of whom are great skiers but were new to Scottish ski touring. We’ve put together a table as an overview of the areas covered in more detail below. Have a go at ski touring before taking the plunge into the Alps. The route can be extended by skinning all the way around to Carn an Tuirc for a more interesting gradient slope. The unpredictability of snow-cover and good conditions is the main factor holding back skiing development in the country. Relatively few foreigners and locals venture into Scotlandâs backcountry skiiing terrain, resulting in a very peaceful and quiet experience, away from crowds. Snowsports touring (using skis or snow boards) is one of Scotland’s fastest growing mountain activities. Ski touring is for those who appreciate gaining altitude, in search of the perfect downhill run, under their own steam. February to April, with late season descents also possible on good snow years. Steep skiers are drawn to Coire Bhrochain, Garbh Coire and the stunning Loch Coire an Lochain, but there are easier options too. This is a monster of a mountain with numerous Coires all of which have had ski descents down their faces and gully lines. Travelling late in the evening allows you to arrive at the car park discreetly at night, normally when it is completely empty. East, West, North and South, somewhere will hopefully have a weather window! I can’t remember the last time the conditions were so fantastic in Scotland – and on a weekend. Coire Ardair has some very steep and serious gully skiing. The most enjoyable open line is known as Paradise (East side of Bidean nam Bian and has various options which will depend upon where the snow has accumulated. All Rights Reserved. Please bare in mind that parking overnight beyond the snowgates might mean you get stuck if the weather deteriorates. If we are fortunate enough to have snow from the east then the fabled West Face occasionally opens up giving access to alpine length gullies looking onto the majestic bowls of Carn More Dearg. In the right conditions this could be one of the longest descents in the country and is far less challenging than the North Face when in good condition. There is a definite progression from ski touring to ski … With the ability to chase the best snow conditions, you’ll find abundant snow sports opportunities from backcountry ski touring to snow-shoeing and mountain biking. Ski Touring in Scotland By stu_mcinnes@hotmail.co.uk March 9, 2016 March 9, 2016 Uncategorized Over the winter I’ve had some fantastic days Ski Touring in Scotland, … Practical snow & avalanche training for skiing … The reason for this is that with the exception of The Fannichs and Wyvis, good snow is fleeting and unless you are local you are not likely to make the trip until you have more popular tours under your belt. A good day out combines this with a second descent down Ben Lawers South East Face. There is another more accessible lay-by on the ski road at the start of the trail. The entrances can often be corniced and steep however. This information combined with the avalanche reports by Scottish Avalanche Information Service, and research of a location, gives the best possible chance of experiencing Scotland in favourable conditions. The South side of the Ski Centre car park, away from the ski lifts. As complete beginners to winter camping we struggled to find up to date information help us find places to stay and teach us all the things we needed to know to make a success of a motorhome skiing trip so we decided to start collecting that information. In opening hours if you're using the ski area for ski touring please purchase a ski touring ticket … A big day out often accessed using mountain bikes to get to Glen Eanaich. Little did we know that there was a world of snowmads out there and we were late to the party! One of the best venues for snow sports in the country, with a high car park giving quick access to a huge variety of terrain and multiple summits. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Rather than restricting ourselves to the ski areas, ski touring skis and splitboards open up possibilities all over the country. If you do park here please pay a car park donation and make a purchase in the cafe. Ski touring can get you into areas considered inaccessible to ordinary skiers and offers a completely different mountain experience. Browse through thousands of trips offered by professional local guides around the world. Mellow terrain. The east side of Cairngorm consistently has good snow cover and is the easiest descent to Loch Avon, via the Saddle, if the snow allows. This guide focuses on the most commonly used areas along Scotland’s main roads. In general the venues in the West are more challenging with the ones listed later (in the East, back down the A9) being more mellow ski tours. Every sort of skiing you could ask for! Most will choose to follow the Mountain Weather Information Service in the lead up to a trip, then switch to the regular updates by MET office. Similarly Meall Corranaich has multiple aspects that can be descended, my favourite being East towards the old shielings. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. With the summer holidays behind us it is hoped some normality will resume. Winterised.com which is now the biggest motorhome skiing and boarding resource and is growing rapidly. Lift served side country with some challenging steeper skiing a short hike away. link to Motorhome and Caravan Skiers Guide to Winter Awnings, link to The Guide to Gas for Motorhome and Caravan Skiers. The North facing stream lines off Meall Dubhag known as Tom, Dick and Harry offer good sport after both a SW and SE wind. On the return to the Glen the steep skiers eye will be drawn toward Sgor Gaoith opposite which holds some of the longest and finest gully skiing opportunities in the country, when in condition. At the end, you should have … Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Many of the open slopes are grassy so don’t need a lot of cover to be usable. Over the years, I have skied in Scotland … Coire An t-Schneada offers superb gully skiing even late into spring, although the terrain is steep and exposed, and can be busy with climbers. Can I go ski touring in Scotland with my campervan or motorhome? Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Coire Ruadh, on the NW side of Carn Ban Mor allows for a longer descent, again following streamlines that collect snow from crossloading. If you have time enough, visit some of the many whisky destilleries in the country! There are some sportier options off both Creise and from the Clach Leathad ridgeline but access is by a rocky scramble from the top of the resort. The favoured ascent, now known as the Escalator makes a fine ski back down. We will compliment your existing ski … We’re Hannah and James – and in 2017 we thought we invented motorhome skiing. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Running through the eastern portion of this magnificent landscape, the route owes its name to the highest public road in Britain, and boasts some of the wildest, most dramatic … Long, multi-descent routes and easy access from the high road. Cairngorm and Nevis range are about a 45- and 60-minute drive respectively from Inverness. If the snow has been coming in from the SW it is worth checking out the short decent from the 783 spot height which heads NE into Coire Ruadh. The Backcorries of Nevis Range offer incredible terrain for the cost of a ski pass and a bit of pushing back around the traverse. More people than ever are moving away from managed resorts, skinning uphill and … You could easily spend a week or two touring a large area of the country, or explore a region over a weekend. They were keen to explore the Ben Lawers range and they had spotted a great route in a Scottish ski touring … This is often used as a higher starting point for Ben Macdui where one of the longest descents in the area heads down it’s South side following All Clach nan Taillear. Of course, ‘No overnight camping’ signs should be respected, and local camp sites used when possible. So by the end of the day you may be able to add some popular routes to your list, such as Cairngorm summit, Ciste Gully, Lurchers Gully or Fiacaill Ridge! Meall nan Tarmachan has descent options off all sides and the best depends on where the snow has been deposited by the wind. This can fill up during the weekend when there is good weather so please park considerately if you are travelling in a large vehicle. The trip out to Macdui combined with a descent into the Lairig Ghru, and then back up to return one of the Northern Corries is a big day, but achievable for most fit tourers. The ascent roughly follows the summer path and the return is directly down from the first ridge. The parking is a short walk along the road from the start of the trail. Similarly to the North there is a good descent into Garbh-Choire. The high starting point can also be used to access surrounding peaks. Ski Touring There is some fantastic ski touring accessible from the Glenshee ski area. The downside to this is that they are avalanche prone. 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