Worldwide Ski Resorts • Scotland • Glenshee
Overview
Glenshee’s ski area is the most extensive in Scotland and spans four valleys with 26 lifts and 38 runs. In good overhead conditions with a full snow cover Glenshee does offer some great skiing and boarding. There is no accommodation at the base station. Good, accessible beginners’ skiing when snowcover OK.
Profile
Glenshee is in the Eastern Cairngorms and is 84 miles north of Edinburgh and 69 miles south west of Aberdeen. Like all of the Scottish centres Glenshee has no accommodation at the immediate base station. The nearest village of any real size is Braemar which is seven miles away, but there is cosy accommodation of all types — from dormitory lodges to imposing country hotels on both approaches to the ski area — up to Ballater 22 miles north and down as far as the market town of Blairgowrie 24 miles south. Glenshee’s ski area is the most extensive in Scotland and spans four valleys either side of the main A93 road with 26 lifts and 38 runs. In good overhead conditions with a full snow cover Glenshee does offer some great skiing and boarding. Not only is there plenty of area but there is usually the feeling of havign covered some area by day’s end, rather than just having bashed up and down very similar runs. Most of the terrain is best suited to beginners and intermediates although there are a few options for the most confident intermediates and advanced skiers and boarders. The Tiger, down the front face of the Cairnwell, has teeth, and bites when it is hard packed. Also over in Coire Fionn the red runs there have some steeper pitches. There are three main restaurants, cafes or snack bars on the ski area. Ski and board hire is available at various outlets on the access roads and at the centre itself, and there is tuition available in all types of skiing and boarding. There is some good off piste which should only be attempted with a local guide or instructor.
Mountain Information
The four valleys provide a pretty comprehensive network of lifts and when they are all working then queuing be minimal. Like the other Scottish areas when it is peak season and some lifts and areas are closed then queues do build up at particular bottlenecks and access points. Beginners have lifts and runs which start from car park level when there is snow, although they do require a little walk for those seeking their first attempt on a lift. The Trainer and Claybokie tows and runs are slightly higher on the area and can be best accessed on the Plastic slope poma or walking up from the car park. Thereafter the improving beginners will soon be at home on the Sunnyside — on the other side of the road — and beyond that the Cluny runs. Intermediates have a good choice and will be able to ski and ride the whole area, with the exception of the front face of the Tiger and perhaps a couple of the more demanding reds. There are usually easier alternatives to most runs. Snowmaking is used to supplement some of the key areas, but is still a very limited snowmaking operation.
Apres Ski
Apres ski is inherently limited by the geographical spread of the accommodation. Mostly it is a case of drinking and eating where the lodging is, and in many cases that can be a very enjoyable experience. There are few stand alone bars and restaurants around the area. Typically the choices are smaller guest houses and inns which will have bars and do dinner bed and breakfast, or drive to some of the bigger hotels. The Spittal Hotel is one of the nearest and largest at 6 miles from the slopes. The Dulmunzie House Hotel is an imposing country house hotel also just by the spittal with a reputation for decent food. Further afield the Glenisla Hotel (24 miles from the centre) is a smaller country house hotel with the classic combination of lovely rooms, real ale and malt whiskies and has had many reports of good food. In Braemar the Invercauld Arms is handy and offer a range of rooms, bar food and meals. There are number of centres offering lodge, dormitory and hostel bunk room accommodation and some have some kind of transport to the slopes available. Otherwise the range of self catering cottage and chalet style accommodation continues to expand all the time.
Scottish Resort Guide
Resort Information • Glenshee
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Resort Height | 610m |
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Top Station | 1060m |
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Bottom Station | 610m |
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Vertical Descent | 450m |
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Drag Lifts | 24 |
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Chair Lifts | 2 |
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High Capacity | 0 |
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Opening Dates | Dec - April |
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Rating Expert | 6 |
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Rating Intermediate | 8 |
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Rating Beginner | 7 |
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Apres Ski Rating | 4 |
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Snow Reliability | 6 |
