Cairngorm Mountain - Ski Area Guide

Scotland's best known ski area is ten miles East of the lively village of Aviemore. There have been dramatic improvements here in recent years and a vast array of non-ski activities are now available to counter the traditional problem - unpredictable weather.

 Cairngorm Mountain Snow News

There is currently no significant snow in the forecast for Cairngorm Mountain.

Who is Cairngorm Mountain good for?

Cairngorm Mountain Ski Facts

	Expert Skiers
	Intermediate Skiers
	Beginners
	Snowboarding
	Snow
	Apres-Ski

Cairngorm Mountain Ski Area

Piste and Lift Stats for Cairngorm Mountain

2	Black Pistes
7	Red Pistes
8	Blue Pistes
11	Green Pistes
23	Pistes
60km	Cross Country Pistes
12	Ski Lifts

Cairngorm Mountain Ski Area Height

Max Vertical and Resort Altitude for Cairngorm Mountain

708m	Max Vertical
1245m	Highest Lift
537m	Lowest Piste
537m	Resort Altitude (Cairngorm Mountain)

Cairngorm Mountain

The Scottish Ski Resort of Cairngorm Mountain has direct access to 23 individual pistes, served by 12 ski lifts.

The skiing is at relatively low altitude, so snow cover can be variable.

There is an airport within two hours drive, so ski weekends, snowboard breaks and short ski holidays to Cairngorm Mountain are perfectly feasible.

Skiing in Cairngorm Mountain

Snow cover in the Cairngorms and affecting all Scottish ski areas is unpredictable. There can be good falls any time from October to June and equally there can be periods when the slopes are largely bare even at what would be the height of the season elsewhere in mid-winter. Strong winds can also be a problem, closing lifts sometimes, although the new funicular has dramatically reduced this problem at Cairngorm.

When conditions are good at Cairngorm there's nowhere better. Cairngorm has a good range of terrain. For total beginners there are easy green runs just up from the Main Car Park or further up beside the Ptarmigan Centre in the Ptarmigan Bowl, providing an easy beginner area accessed via the Funicular from the Base Station.

Almost half of the slopes (48%) are for beginners and intermediates. Coire Cas, straight up from the Main Car Park, has plenty of green and blue slopes for the intermediates and advancing novices. The M2 is a good long blue run starting from the Ptarmigan Centre at the top all the way down to the Car Parks. 47% of the slopes are red and more experienced skiers enjoy the challenge of the Ciste Gully. The most challenging run, the only black, is the West Wall at Coire na Ciste. The White Lady provides an extra challenge when its covered in moguls.

To help you find your way around there is a free guide service. The Hilton Cairngorm Ambassador Team provide friendly and informative escorted ski and board tours of Cairngorm with a daily tour at 11.30am from the information office in the Base Station at Coire Cas car park.

Snowboarding in Cairngorm Mountain

Cairngorm can offer snowsports instruction, provided by The Ski School and Zippyboarder School, both based at Level 3 of the Day L;odge. Visit their websites at www.theskischool.co.uk and www.learn2snowboard.co.uk for more information. Clothing hire is also available.

This ski area was the first to have a fully maintained snowboard fun park and have produced a ride guide integral to their piste map which keeps boarders informed on their beginner areas, freestyle jumps, freeride, carving and steeps. The terrain at Cairngorm is varied and natural features will form depending on the wind direction and snow.

Cairngorm Mountain Aprés Ski

The main centre for nightlife is Aviemore which has a good choice of pubs and hotels and really seems to come alive when it has a covering of snow. The Vault, the local nightclub is the place to go if you want to party into the early hours, whilst many of the bars and hotels have live music. The Cairngorm Hotel, The Winking Owl, RD's, MacKenzie's and Mambo's are all popular with the tourists and locals alike. The other villages in the area, from Newtonmore in the south to Grantown and Carrbridge in the north, all have a good variety of bars and nightlife.

If you're looking for a cosy Highland pub with a good selection of fine malt whiskies, cask conditioned ales and a superb cellar of great wines then the Old Bridge Inn, by the River Spey is the place to be, especially on a Tuesday night when they have a Highland evening with lively local entertainment.