Scotland is coming off two of the best winters in recent history. It’s anyones guess as to how this year will shape up but if your interested in skiing the Scottish Highlands there is just one site you need to be reading, highland-instinct.co.uk. Highland Instinct is the definitive resource for skiing in Scotland. Check out their short film highlighting some of the best terrain in the Scottish Highlands, Shoulders of Giants // a Scottish ski and snowboard film.
From skiing graded ice-climbs to jumping over startled sheep, Jamie Johnston’s Scottish backcountry ski and snowboard film follows a group revelling in the snow conditions of the past few years. As shown at the Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival 2011
Scotland consists of Five ski centers all located in the Grampian Mountains of the Scottish Highlands. Here is a look at the five resorts.
Glenshee
|
Base Station elevation
|
650 metres
|
|
Summit elevation
|
1068 metres; 920 metres; 932 metres; 915 metres
|
|
Pisted vertical descent
|
460 metres
|
|
Typical winter season
|
December until April
|
|
Total uplift
|
21
|
|
Type of uplift
|
Two chairlifts; four t-bars; fifteen pomas
|
|
Marked runs
|
Green: 22%
Blue: 36% Red: 36% Black: 3% |
|
Off-piste
|
Yes
|
|
Snow making
|
Yes
|
|
Terrain park
|
Yes, when conditions permit
|
|
Artificial slope
|
No
|
|
Ski guiding
|
No
|
Nevis Range
|
Base Station elevation
|
91 metres
|
|
Goose Station elevation
|
655 metres
|
|
Summit Lift elevation
|
1215 metres
|
|
Summit elevation
|
1221 metres
|
|
Pisted vertical descent
|
580 metres
|
|
Typical winter season
|
December until May
|
|
Total uplift
|
12
|
|
Type of uplift
|
One gondola; three chairlifts; three t-bars; four button lifts; one trainer tow
|
|
Marked runs
|
Green: 20%
Blue: 34% Red: 32% Black: 14% |
|
Off-piste
|
Yes
|
|
Snow making
|
None
|
|
Terrain park
|
Yes, when conditions permit
|
|
Artificial slope
|
Yes
|
|
Ski guiding
|
Yes, when conditions permit
|
CairnGorm Mountain
|
Ciste Base Station elevation
|
550 metres
|
|
Cas Base Station elevation
|
635 metres
|
|
Ptarmigan Station elevation
|
1097 metres
|
|
Summit elevation
|
1245 metres
|
|
Pisted vertical descent
|
500 metres
|
|
Typical winter season
|
December until May
|
|
Total uplift
|
12
|
|
Type of uplift
|
One funicular; five t-bars; five pomas; one button lift
|
|
Marked runs
|
Green: 24%
Blue: 33% Red: 35% Black: 8% |
|
Off-piste
|
Yes
|
|
Snow making
|
None
|
|
Terrain park
|
Yes, when conditions permit
|
|
Ski guiding
|
Yes, when conditions permit
|
|
Base Station elevation
|
305 metres
|
|
Top Station elevation
|
1070 metres
|
|
Summit elevation
|
1108 metres
|
|
Pisted vertical descent
|
760 metres
|
|
Typical winter season
|
December until May
|
|
Total uplift
|
7
|
|
Type of uplift
|
Two chairlifts; two t-bars; one poma; one button lift; one beginner tow
|
|
Marked runs
|
Green: 21%
Blue: 32% Red: 37% Black: 10% |
|
Off-piste
|
Yes
|
|
Snow making
|
No
|
|
Terrain park
|
When conditions allow
|
|
Artificial slope
|
No
|
|
Ski guiding
|
No
|
lecht 2090
|
Base Station elevation
|
637 metres
|
|
Top Station elevation
|
776 metres
|
|
Summit elevation
|
776 metres
|
|
Pisted vertical descent
|
210 metres
|
|
Typical winter season
|
December until April
|
|
Total uplift
|
15
|
|
Type of uplift
|
One chairlift; six pomas; one button lift; seven beginner tows
|
|
Marked runs
|
Green: 33%
Blue: 33% Red: 30% Black: 4% |
|
Off-piste
|
Yes
|
|
Snow making
|
Yes
|
|
Terrain park
|
Yes; one permanent, and another built when conditions permit
|
|
Café/Restaurant outlets
|
One: Base Station
|
|
Retail outlets
|
None
|
|
Equipment hire
|
Yes
|
|
Ski & snowboard schools
|
Yes
|
|
Artificial slope
|
Yes
|
|
Ski guiding
|
No
|
In 2009 Pro skier John Symms headed over to Scotland to film an episode of Salomon FreeskiTV. Here is a comedic look at what he found.