[Resort Insider] Glenshee Snowsports Centre

Glenshee is one of the five commercial ski areas in Scotland and the most extensive in the UK. Located two hours north of Edinburgh or Glasgow, the Gaelic translation of its name is “Glen of the Faeries”, so it has to be a fun place to hit the slopes!

There’s a great variety of terrain spread across some 810 hectares of stunning Highland scenery combined with a well-linked lift system that in my opinion is unmatched by any of the other British centres. Altogether there are now 22 lifts serving 36 runs with a combined 40km of accessible piste. The first lift was installed back in 1957 – so they’re just coming up to their 60th anniversary – and they’ve been hard at work improving and extending the centre ever since.

Best time to arrive? Get here first thing and make the most of the quiet time as it can get busy later in the morning and you’ll beat the ticket queue. Get a hot roll and coffee from the café, pick up a piste map and plan your day.

First lift of the day? Take the new Cairnwell chairlift to the top and along the bunny run. You’ll then have an option of up to six routes to the base with something for all abilities. Great for warming up the legs.

Best rental shop? If you’re a boarder, then it’s Glenshee Ski Centre. They have hundreds of boards and friendly staff. If you’re a skier, then it has to be The Cabin Ski Hire based in Bridge of Cally. We have brand-new equipment, clean comfy boots and the very latest kit every season from Völkl, K2 and LINE … we even have local handmade wooden skis! Alpine-quality set-up with awesome service.

Favourite café? There are three options, but we like Meall o Dhar café on the way over to Glas Maol and Coire Fionn; the warmth combined with a wooden interior and friendly atmosphere gives it a cosy, almost alpine feel. All of the baked delights served at Glenshee come up each morning from a local bakery on the Braemar side.

Locals’ favourite snack? The cafés serve great hot pies, home cooking and the locals’ favourite Yum Yums – these are glazed plaited doughy delicacies! Ideal for dunking in your hot chocolate.

Lift of choice? Glas Maol serves a fantastically varied part of the mountain with choices including a long, gentle, swooping red, a steeper red or a black from the top, as well as the longest run in the UK coming in at 2km.

Best local accommodation? There is a massive variety, from glamping in ecopods and yurts to local hotels, guest houses and fantastic holiday homes. We like the stunning self-catering house Balnabea, only 30 minutes to the slopes, friendly and welcoming with a yummy welcome basket and a sauna!

Event of the season? Scottish Ski and Boarder Cross Championship: four racers at a time battle down a super-fun and exciting course. This season the comp is to be held on 4 and 5 March 2017.

Best value in Scotland? Well, a lift ticket costs £6 less than the same adult day pass at CairnGorm Mountain, and there’s double the lifts.

Christopher Bilsland runs The Cabin Ski Hire 

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