Nevis Range

As with all Scottish resorts, conditions can at times be unreliable but on a good day, the freeriding here can rival the world’s best – and you’d certainly be 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! All of the pistes are located on the north-facing slopes of Aonach Mor, dropping from the summit at 1190m to the gondola top station at 650m.

Immediately outside the top station are some sheltered beginner slopes, bolstered in bad snow years by an artificial slope. Above this lie a network of blues and reds, served by Scotland’s only quad chairlift and two t-bars, whilst the Summit Button accesses snowsure, gentle blues. From this, one long cornice accesses the east-facing Back Corries and Scotland’s best off piste.

Early starters will find a decent beginner area right outside the gondola top station, served by the Linnhe and Lochy button lifts and a rope tow for first timers. Its location is ideal for when the weather is bad – it’s a very quick walk to get back inside to the warmth of the Snowgoose Restaurant. Progression on to the longer greens of Rob Roy is good when the Great Glen Chair is open and the longer blues under the quad should be within reach after a few days.

Intermediates will really enjoy the blues served by the quad chair and also those running alongside the Alpha button. The Summit runs are also ideal and are often home to some great snow, just make sure you are confident tackling sharper gradients as parts of the Goose and Sidewinder on the way back down are noticeably steeper. Very confident intermediates should be able to tackle the blacks off the Warren’s T-bar, especially if they have been freshly pisted.

Although the Warren’s zone can provide some on-piste challenges, Nevis Range comes into its own if you’re looking for off piste. The Back Corries are one vast playground and nowhere else in Scotland is the backcountry so accessible.

Chancer, Yellow Bellow and Winger Wall are the main routes down and these often require a cornice drop at the start, but once in, the slopes are often loaded with powder, right down to the base of the Braveheart Chair. If you’re feeling adventurous and are kitted out appropriately, a short walk across the Summit to Spikes and Summit Gully is well worth it for a huge vertical and quite often, completely fresh tracks.

Nevis Range is around two and a half hours away by car from Glasgow and a touch further at three hours from Edinburgh. Three trains a day leave Glasgow for Fort William and the journey takes a little under four hours, plus an additional overnight service, the Caledonian Sleeper, arrives (in the morning) and departs (in the evening) for London (service does not run on Saturday nights). A regular public bus or local taxis make the short transfer from Fort William to the resort base.

• Glasgow: 2.5 hours (driving) or 4 hours (by train)
• Edinburgh: 3 hours