Best ski resorts in UK

Many people have heard of such famous winter holiday resorts as Courchevel or the American Aspen. But have you heard that the United Kingdom has such resorts too? UK ski resorts have a total length of 159 kilometres of runs and 177 lifts. They are as good as famous resorts when it comes to comfort, extreme terrain and entertainment.

Ski resorts in the UK are popular among both the British and foreign visitors. There are dozens of them to suit any taste. Skiing experts have compiled a list of the best resorts for winter holidaymakers.

Here you have it:

• Nevis Range;
• Glenshee;
• Glencoe Mountain;
• Cairngorm Mountain.

We will describe them in detail in this article.

Nevis Range

It is located at one of the highest peaks of Great Britain, Mount Ben Nevis, 10 kilometres from Fort William, in Scotland. Twenty kilometres of slopes are available for skiing and snowboarding. Twelve chairlifts will take you to any point on the mountain slope, where the snowsports area is set up. The snowsports area is situated between the elevations of 655m and 1,221m. Skiing pistes for beginners and professional skiers will pleasantly surprise you with the quality of snow.

One of the Nevis Range hotels operating in the resort is very close to Fort William, located on Dawson’s Hill. Lifts were installed to take guests there. For your information, the Nevis Range Mountain Gondola lift is the only one of its kind in Britain reaching a height of 650 metres. Besides the gondola lift, there are also chairlifts and T-bar lifts.

There are dozens of hotels both on the territory of the resort and in the neighbourhood offering the best quality service.

For adrenaline junkies, night skiing is offered there too. The season duration at Nevis Range ski resort is from mid-December to mid-April.

Nevis Range in numbers:

• 12 lifts;
• Lift capacity is 10,350 passengers per hour;
• Total length of elevation to the slopes is 7.7 kilometres.

Glenshee

With 22 lifts and 36 pistes, Glenshee is the largest ski resort in Scotland.

Glenshee has an excellent ski school, where beginners learn the skills of a real alpine skier in a few days.

The resort is conveniently located just off the A93 road 20 kilometres north of Blairgowrie, Perthshire. The resort blends seamlessly into three Scottish valleys, and by British standards, its ski area is very extensive.

Skiers who like remote locations can try the slopes of Mount Glas Moal. On the other side of the peak, the steepest piste is created with 250 metres of almost steep slope at 1,029 metres altitude. The resort also offers night skiing.

Night stays are available. If you wish to stay there for a few days, you can book a cosy hotel in Blairgowrie in the south or the colourful village of Braemar in the north.

Glenshee in numbers:

• Length of slopes is 40 kilometres;
• 22 lifts;
• Total length of elevation to the slopes is 11.5 kilometres;
• Ski area is between 650m and 900m.

Glencoe mountain

Glencoe Mountain Resort was founded in 1956. It is located in the Scottish Highlands.

This winter holiday destination is conveniently located an hour and a half drive away from Glasgow and a couple of hours from Edinburgh. In the springtime of 2010, the area experienced massive snowfalls and since then the resort has been open all year round to the public.

There are skiing and snowboarding areas both for beginners and professional skiers.

Moreover, the resort offers mountain biking (at certain times of the year), archery, hill walking and chairlift rides.

The resort provides equipment for hire. Beginners can learn the basics of skiing at the snowsports school.And for those who like their comfort, there are cafes, a bar and free camping in winter.

Glencoe Mountain in numbers:

• Total length of slopes is 24.3 kilometres;
• 8 lifts;
• Ski area is between 360m and 1,070m;
• Lift capacity is 5,800 passengers per hour.

Cairngorm mountain

Cairngorm Mountain Resort is located in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. It is one of the most favourite winter resorts for the British. Meanwhile, it’s with good reason that Cairngorm Mountain is known as the most popular place for winter holidays. It is located in the very centre of the namesake National Park.

The resort is located at over 1,000 metres, so the guests can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views.

Here you can find a ski piste to your liking. The resort’s rental shop offers equipment of all sizes. The School of Snowsports offer lessons for beginners.

There is a variety of pistes at this resort, and they are wide enough for skiing. There are plenty of freestyle slopes in the ski area. The slopes can be accessed via many lifts and the funicular railway.

Cairngorm Mountain in numbers:

• 35 pistes;
• Total length of slopes is 32 kilometres;
• 11 lifts;
• Ski area is between 640m and 1,230m;
• Season lasts from November to April.

Summary

Ski resorts in the UK are well-equipped and known for their high quality and comfort. They have all the necessary infrastructure and offer high-quality service that is as good as resorts in other countries.

Whichever resort you visit, your holiday will never be dull. Besides skiing, the resorts offer other activities, sled dog racing, and walks through mysterious halls of medieval castles and nice pubs.