Into the wild

Breath-clouding temperatures, moon-like landscapes, and the rush of a wintery breeze… Some might say sliding the Scottish mountains in winter is the best way to explore this country. Whether that’s strapped to a snowboard or clicked-in to touring skis, Scotland’s mountains offer world-class snowsport slopes and backcountry terrain – if you’re willing to take the rough with the smooth.

Scotland is home to six lift-served snowsport areas: Glencoe; Glenshee; Cairngorm Mountain; Nevis Range; the Lecht; and the Lowther Hills. The resorts often enjoy enough snow to remain open (in fits and starts) from December all the way through to May. The snow may be of varying quality, but the fabled line, “If you can ski in Scotland, you can ski anywhere,” has its basis in truth. And for those with backcountry aspirations, there are miles of wilderness to explore across the Highlands and into the north-west of the country. Snow often remains in the north-facing gullies throughout the winter and sometimes into June – just don’t forget your hiking boots, as there might be some gaps in the snow cover!

Of course, skiing in Scotland is not to be compared to cruising Alpine groomers or North America’s motorway pistes. It’s a more rugged and challenging affair in every sense. Fast changing weather can work for you or against you, but if you’re looking for adventure, a Scottish winter offers it in spades.

The experience is much more akin to exploring Norway or the club fields in New Zealand, where a hardcore of locals could tell you the exact number of days they have skied this season (and the last 20). It is this commitment, hardiness, and community spirit that keeps the resorts ticking over – welcoming and enthusiastic, whatever the weather. You’d find it difficult not to be inspired to get out and have a go.

If you’re thinking of taking your first slide this winter, all of the resorts offer lessons and kit hire from their mountain base stations (with the exception of the Lowther Hills, which is a volunteer-run club). If you’d like to flex your snow skills on some more remote terrain, why not check out the courses run by Glenmore Lodge, Wandering Workshops or British Backcountry? In recent years, ski touring and split boarding have experienced a boom across the globe thanks to lighter weight kit becoming more accessible, and a trend towards human-powered escapades – which the wild and wondrous Scottish mountains cater to perfectly.

The Wild Weekend at Glenmore Lodge (16-17 March, 2024) offers novice and experienced ski tourers the opportunity to dedicate a full weekend to exploring the Cairngorm mountains (complete with Saturday night apres-ski party).

Wandering Workshops offer immersive ski touring and split boarding adventures with a focus on mindfulness and wellbeing, as well as off-piste skill sessions and bespoke courses.

British Backcountry are the go-to-guys for bike and ski missions, gullyhunting tours, and navigation or snow safety clinics, with courses running at weekends wherever (and whenever) there’s snow.