graemehowie.com

Last weekend Catherine and I went back up to Aviemore for another couple of days skiing and a long weekend away from work. We drove up to Ayrshire on the Wednesday night and Thursday morning, then up to Aviemore on the Thursday. Friday we went to Cairngorm where there was epic snow cover, it’s the first time I’ve ever used the Car Park and Fiacaill Ridge ski tows. Unfortunatly the 50mph+ winds and low cloud meant that only the lower slopes were open, and it was quite busy considering it was a normal working Friday. We stayed in Aviemore that evening too, both nights at the Hilton in Coylumbridge.

However for the Saturday Cairngorm would be even busier and the forecast looked better in the South, so we headed of to Glenshee. Glenshee was the last Scottish resort that we hadn’t been to, as unlike Nevis and Glencoe that are within 20 mins and 45 mins of Fort William, and likewise Cairngorm and the Lecht for Aviemore, Glenshee is in the middle of nowhere. There are some towns not too far away, but whilst Aviemore and Fort William are quiet, Pitlochry and Blairgowrie have nothing at all!  In reality it’s only 25 miles south east of Aviemore, but the road journey is 80 miles and takes 1h 45m – however it if you hold the map just right, Glenshee is almost on the way back to Ayrshire from Aviemore.

It was an excellent day with relatively low winds when away from the north west faces, and blue skies all day. It was probably one of the best days skiing we’ve had in Scotland with excellent snow conditions, some wind-blown powder and almost all the rocks covered. We explored Cairnwell, Carn Aosda and Sunnyside with the best conditions at Bucharts Coire. Some pictures from the day at Glenshee:

We’re now back to looking at Banff for March. Fingers crossed we’ll be able to sort something out as I’m really looking forward to going back to Sunshine Village. I’d like to get back on a board too for a day or so, though I probably really need some more lessons. Maybe.