Glenshee

As with nearby Lecht, there is no accommodation on the hill, but there are a choice of food and drink stops, including the Cairnwell Café, Base Café and Meall Odhar Café. If you’re staying here for several days we’d recommend the options in Braemar to the north or one of the several campsites, B&Bs and lodges located to the south on the road towards Blairgowrie – which in itself makes for a decent option.

As with all Scottish resorts, conditions can at times be unreliable but on a good day, skiing in Scotland can rival the world’s best – and you’d be certainly hard pushed to find more spectacular scenery. For this reason stay as flexible as possible and be prepared to drop everything and dash to the mountains when conditions are good!

There are two main ski sectors at Glenshee, located either side of the Base Lodge and the A93. The Cairnwell slopes to the west are home to the best beginner areas and some long, winding routes in Butchart’s Coire, as well as the infamous Tiger slope from the Cairnwell summit. On the other side of the road, lifts rise up Sunnyside to a network of greens into Meall Odhar, from which drags take you out towards the tougher, longer slopes of Coire Fionn and Glas Maol.

The beginner slopes at Glenshee are located right next to the road and just below the Base Lodge, where there is also an artificial slope. Sadly the resort does not possess the largest snowmaking arsenal, meaning that snow reliability can suffer. However, in good conditions there is excellent progression on to the longer Claybokie drag and the Bunny Run on the Cairnwell side, and to the Sunnyside and Cluny slopes over the A93.

Glenshee is possibly Scotland’s best bet for intermediates, especially in a good winter when all of the runs are open. The race tracks of the Cairnwell t- bar and the winding blues of Carn Aosda are popular, whilst confident intermediates will enjoy the sense of travel getting all the way across to Glas Maol when conditions allow. Even if that lift isn’t open, the Coire Fionn runs are snowsure and often in great condition, whilst the rolling terrain of Caenlochan is one of the most fun areas to explore in the resort.

When the snow is right, Glenshee is home to arguably Scotland’s most formidable run – the Tiger. Yes it might not be as steep as the Flypaper at Glencoe, but big bumps often form and it certainly is not for the feint-hearted. In addition, Glas Maol turns into one big playground for advanced skiers and boarders after fresh snowfall.

• Aberdeen: 1.75 hours
• Edinburgh: 2 hours
• Glasgow: 2 hours