Snowboarding in Scotland newbie, advice needed.

I am going to try Scotland/Ben Nevis this year. Is there a best time in the season to go or is it different conditions every year?

Howieleem. I went to Scotland last year for my first time just for a weekend. I've been skiing for a few years so was a bit limiting for me and in the time it took me to travel there, I could have been in France. That said, the weather was great and the snow was good. The cairngorms are very exposed, and I remember it being very windy, and busy come to that. Another member of the group I was with said that later in the season the weather is better, which I guess is logical as the days start to stretch out and temperatures aren't as cold. They usually have quite a long season up there. I know you've said Ben Nevis, but check out http://www.cairngormmountain.com/ for info.

At Xmas I reverted to being a newbie, as I tried out boarding as well, think I'm hooked, but just have to work out hoe to buy both sets of equipment now.

Good luck in Scotland and perhaps you'll post some feedback of how you get on.

howieleem wrote:I am going to try Scotland/Ben Nevis this year. Is there a best time in the season to go or is it different conditions every year?

The 5th of March is usually good, although the weather can be changeable year on year.

The only problem with Scotland is that it's very changeable and you have to be flexible.
If you're coming up you would need a car to be able to drive to another resort if winds picked up.
It's excellent if you get good weather, I'm hoping that the forecast holds true for the next two days, 30cm of snow and then sat sun should be clear!!
Btw glens here is the most alpine of the 5, but I do prefer Glencoe and Nevis for the off piste

The only problem with Scotland is.....







.....its Scotland

Take the blinkers off tony.........

As always with Scotland the advice is not to plan ahead and when it dumps be ready to go at short notice-if you can. Rossyhead also touches on the other problem that if they have the coverage then things might not be opened due to high winds.

I have family who live in Oban so I'm up that way several times over the course of the year, I always pack my planks If I'm up and there's snow I ski, if not I wait till next time. When it's good it's as good as ANYWHERE with the only limitation being the size of the areas but no issue for a long weekend and it beats the fridge any day. The Back Corries when open are superb and I love the feeling of isolation/wilderness.

Glencoe if coming from the South is also another possibility, with good coverage it offers a relatively large amount of on piste skiing. I'll be up at the start of Feb, it's about 4.5 hours door to door for us we'll stay in Glasgow the first night and hit the Glasgow fridge so my OH can stretch her ski legs prior to her first trip of the season in Austria the following weekend. If there's snow in GC or NR we'll also hit them on the Friday.

Don't let the Scotland bashers put you off. If you live within driving distance and are flexible it can be awesome.

Almost fogot to add IME the best condition over the last 4/5 years have been March-April time. 2 years ago I skied Nevis Range at the end of April and it was bloody glorious!

rossyhead wrote:Take the blinkers off tony.........

None on. I love Scotland, my wife is Scottish, I'd happily live up there.
However I wouldn't plan a trip to ski up there, thanks.