Planning Scotland for Xmas 2017.

pogofish

Here's a few shots from up that way last winter. Going from Deeside to Tomintoul via the Brig o'Gairn:












You don't want to sit in those seats too long in winter - your backside may freeze there! :eek:

daveyjp

OP. You are 9 months too soon to find cheap rail tickets.

Snow is never guaranteed in Scotland, have spent 6 of the last 8 years there and have had snow on the roads once.

Runningfast

I echo the other posters, Scotland is like everywhere else in the UK snow cannot be guaranteed.

I spend a lot of time in Scotland (closest family are from and still live there) north of Inverness and in some winters we see no laying snow at all at town/road level. Other years can see several feet etc. If you want snow then your best bet would be to stay central highlands around the Cairngorms. If there is snow to be played on in the UK it will be a few thousand feet up in the Cairngorms. The benefit here is that there is a road up to the ski centre.

If you drive also beware that in winter snow can often slow or completely close the M6 around Shap fell in Cumbria. I have spent many an hour including a complete night in the car on Shap fell in winter. This year in November it was at a crawling pace and down to one lane due to snow.

Also, Scottish authorities can be just as bad as their English and Welsh counterparts in terms of snow clearing. I was on a bus to Aviemore last winter that was terminated in Edinburgh due to about 3 inches of snow. In the end I jumped on the train to Aviemore looking out of the window the snow was cosmetic in most places and there was absolutely no snow at all at town level in Aviemore plus most of the ski runs at the ski centre were closed due to a lack of snow. You take your chances.

If you want guaranteed snow you need to go abroad to really improve your chances.

Murphybear

I have been looking at planning a Scottish holiday from mid Devon. I have found the same as you, if you have diy travel it is a long and expensive journey.

Have you thought about going by coach? There are lots of inclusive coach holidays which are reasonably priced and you can get to the Highlands from the South West. You will need to be a good coach traveller as it is a long journey

zukibear

I have have driven to Inverness from Chessington in Surrey, for the last 7 years - it takes at least 12 hours when traffic is good and we had 2 drivers, this was during the summer months when there is more daylight.
Personally I would consider different options rather than drive in the winter, the A9 is a long, tiring road.