Skiing on Cairngorm mountain

Joto_2

Hi
With the credit crunch and the snow up on the cairngorms at the moment we have just booked 5 days over 1/2 term. Anyone live locally or skied here before who can give us some tips about hire/car park/eating out/eating on the mountain . Anything really to help us get the most out of our time here.

Keeping our fingers crossed the snow lasts but the weather warms up a little - it looks freezing!

We're staying at the Aviemore Highland Resort Inn which seems to have mixed reports but for £20 a night as long as it's clean I don't mind.

Thanks in advance for any help/suggestions

pogofish

There is a thread on eating out in the area further down this forum. I must say, my experience is not good but there were some suggestions from local folk that look much better.

As for parking/eating - you don't have a lot of choice at the slopes IME & most of the places in Aviemore are well withing ealking distance.

Have fun.

competitionscafe

Is half term next week? Was thinking of going up but the SYHA hostel is fully booked.

Conditions are suppossed to be the best for years - so hope it lasts. The slopes will be mad busy if it's half term though. Pictures/webcam from yesterday and today look amazing - no wind either which makes a change!
http://www.winterhighland.info/pix/pixalbum.php?pix_id=520

For discounts see this page:
http://adventure.visitscotland.com/adventure-pass/offers/cairngorm-mountain1

For latest conditions etc see:
http://www.cairngormmountain.co.uk/

Enjoy!

one-non-blonde

Competitionscafe has already pointed you to the Winter Highland site and the forums there are also a fab source of info:
http://www.winterhighland.info/forum/list.php?2

Resort conditions/lift status:
http://www.winterhighland.info/snowreports/index.php?resort=cg
This info is available on WAP if you remember to store the address in your phone before you go. The tourist information office in Aviemore display the weather updates in their window.

Webcams:
http://www.highland-instinct.co.uk/webcams/index.php

Parking at the hotel is free and at Cairngorm, but get there early! There is a Tesco just outside the hotel complex where you can buy food to take with you to keep costs down (we always lunch in the car). Ski hire and lift tickets can be bought in Aviemore to avoid queues at Cairngorm but I've never done it myself so don't have any details.

alamo_2

Hi there, if you go to www.sledges.co.uk this will give you prices on ski hire it is called Glenmore Mountain Shop and it is on the road up to the mountain just after Loch Morlich it has a great wee cafe and can view a vast amount of birds and red squirrel daily. Also the ptarmigan cafe at the top of the mountain is good they have meals as well. The Winking owl in Aviemore itself has nice meals and is quite reasonable also the italian has an all you can eat buffet for about £6.00 up until 5pm. Smiffys fish and chip shop is recommended its accross from tescos and you can sit in too if you wish. There is loads of snow with more to come i think. You will have a great time i am heading up myself too. :T

Joto_2

Thanks for all the info guys, snows looking good so we should have a great week

norfolkgirlandproudofit

Hi sorry have only today seen your original post. Hope you are having a great half term break here. The Glenmore Shop already mentioned is a great place to eat, good plain food, cooked to order, at very reasonable prices. Vegans can get beans on toast here. Also worth a look for anyone coming up here is Glenmore Lodge bar - children are welcome and the bar food is cooked in the main Lodge kitchen and is reasonable priced. Smiffy's as previously mentioned is consistently good quality. Also try the cafe at the Forestry Commission tourist shop at Glenmore. Again, good basic food.
p.s. as you can tell, despite my byline which I haven't yet amended, I am no longer located in suffolk!