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Forecast today: Snow grains
- Max temp: 6.8 °c
- Min temp: -1.2 °c
- Last snowed: Fri 20 Dec
Despite limited capacity with the closure, once again, of the funicular for 2023/24, Cairngorm remains the capital of Scottish snowsports
Owing to continued mechanical faults in the new funicular system – redeveloped over many years and opened in time for the 2023 summer season – the funicular is once again closed for this winter. Good capacity on the hill remains, however, with one of Scotland’s best developed lift systems. The town of Aviemore is the resort’s base, a short drive or bus ride away. It can be easily reached from Edinburgh or Glasgow by train and there are numerous accommodation options, ranging from campsites and hostels through to traditional hotels. The town has Scotland’s most “resort-like” feel and there is also a decent selection of pubs and restaurants.
As with all Scottish resorts, conditions can at times be unreliable, but on a good day, skiing in Scotland can rival the world’s best – and you would 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!
Beginner- Fast lifts
- Intermediate
- Resort Activities
- Advanced
- Aprés
- Snow
Beginner
Fast lifts
Advanced
AprésPros and cons
- Varied slopes ranging from winding greens to steep reds and blacks
- Stunning scenery in Cairngorms National Park
- Aviemore is a great base and has a good resort-town feel
- Very accessible by train or by car from Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow
- Best beginner slopes can be cold and exposed at the top of the hill
- Removal of lifts in Coire na Ciste limits terrain for advanced/expert skiers and boarders
- Access road from Aviemore prone to closure due to drifting snow
- Limited uphill capacity owing to ongoing problems with the funicular
On the Slopes
30km of north-facing slopes are located in two corries – Coire Cas and Coire na Ciste. The funicular served both, but as this is out of action, surface lifts are required to get to the top. The easiest terrain is in the Ptarmigan and Ciste Bowls at the top of the hill or in the Sheiling area at the base, whilst the toughest terrain can be found in Ciste Gully. There are also excellent touring opportunities on the Cairngorm Plateau and beyond.
The big snowmaking investment should help ensure adequate snow cover, but from here progression very much relies on the Coire Cas t-bar further up the hill being open. Those that find t-bars difficult will struggle.
In decent snow, there are some good options for intermediates. The blue rated M2 is a good, winding cruise from the summit and the slopes of the Fiacaill are often underused. If pisted, the White Lady is in the grasp of most intermediates, as is the adjacent M1 Racetrack. In very good conditions, most intermediates should be able to tackle the Ciste Gully.
The removal of the West Wall and Ciste chairlifts has reduced the offering for advanced and expert skiers and boarders. The long gully runs in Coire na Ciste rely on there being sufficient snow for the West Wall Poma lift and even if complete, there are often huge queues for it. A pair of touring skins will make a big difference to your day here.
In the Resort
Most visitors will stay down in the town of Aviemore, a short bus ride or drive below the mountain. It has a good ski resort feel to it and is home to a variety of ski rental shops, pubs and restaurants. Access from Edinburgh and Glasgow is very good, either via the recently upgraded A9 or via the railway – the station is right in the heart of town.
We would recommend trying the locally brewed beer from the Cairngorm Brewery or exploring the many whiskey distilleries in Spey Valley – the river itself runs right past the town of Aviemore.
For Families
There is lots of family-friendly accommodation in Aviemore itself, ranging from great-value hostels to family-run B&Bs and from campsites to large hotels. Away from the slopes there is more to do here than at the other Scottish resorts – there are ample sledging opportunities and you can visit the only reindeer herd in the UK.
For Après
Don’t expect anything like Alpine après, but Aviemore is home to a good selection of pubs, most of which also serve good local food. Our top picks would be the Winking Owl or the Old Bridge Inn. If you’re really looking for a big night, then you can end your evening in the only nightclub in town – Vault.
Getting to Cairngorm Mountain
Aviemore is very easy to get to by car or by train. The drive up from Aberdeen takes just over two hours, whilst Edinburgh or Glasgow sit around two and a half hours away. From Aberdeen and Edinburgh the train takes a little over three hours but the ride from Glasgow is quicker – the journey takes around two and three-quarter hours.
- Aberdeen: 2 hours (driving) or 3 hours (by train)
- Edinburgh: 2.5 hours (driving) or 3.5 hours (by train)
- Glasgow: 2.5 hours (driving) or 3 hours (by train)
Season Dates
Scotland aims to ski from mid-December until mid-April – conditions are sufficiently varied that resorts often do not provide formal opening and closing dates.
Top (1096m)
| Mon 23 Dec | Tue 24 Dec | Wed 25 Dec | Thu 26 Dec | Fri 27 Dec | Sat 28 Dec | Sun 29 Dec | Mon 30 Dec | Tue 31 Dec | Wed 1 Jan | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Light snow |
Light snow |
 Dense fog |  Light rain |
Mainly cloudy |
 Mist | Dense fog |
Mist |
Light rain | Light rain/snow |
Snow grains |
Fog | Light rain/snow |
Light rain/snow |
Light drizzle | Light rain/snow |
Occasional snow |
Snow grains | Light snow |
Light snow |
Occasional snow | Light snow |
Occasional snow |
Light snow | Light snow |
Light snow |
Snow shower | Light snow shwr |
Snow flurry |
 Generally clear |
| Wind |  |
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| Snow expected | 0.6 cm | 1.1 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.1 cm | 0.2 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.2 cm | 0.6 cm | 0.6 cm | 1.1 cm | 1.7 cm | 0.4 cm | 1.3 cm | 0.4 cm | 0.7 cm | 3.4 cm | 4.8 cm | 4.9 cm | 3.9 cm | 1.4 cm | 0.7 cm |
| Max temp | -4.8°c | -0.8°c | 2.5°c | 4°c | 4.8°c | 4.8°c | 3.8°c | 3.1°c | 3.6°c | 2.8°c | 1.2°c | 2.1°c | 2°c | 1.9°c | 2.3°c | 2°c | 0°c | 0.1°c | 0°c | -0.8°c | -0.4°c | -0.3°c | -1.9°c | -1.9°c | -2.1°c | -3.4°c | -3.6°c | -4.4°c | -5.8°c | -6.6°c |
| Min temp | -5.8°c | -4.8°c | -0.8°c | 3.7°c | 3.7°c | 4.4°c | 2.4°c | 2.2°c | 3°c | 1.2°c | 0.5°c | 1.2°c | 1.2°c | 1°c | 1.9°c | 0°c | -0.5°c | -0.3°c | -1°c | -1.4°c | -0.9°c | -2.1°c | -2.5°c | -2.1°c | -3.4°c | -4.2°c | -3.9°c | -5.8°c | -6.9°c | -7.1°c |
| Feels like temp | -11.3°c | -9.5°c | -5.7°c | -0.3°c | -0.8°c | 0.5°c | -0.8°c | -2.9°c | -1.7°c | -0.4°c | -2.4°c | -2.2°c | -2°c | -3.5°c | -2.7°c | -2.6°c | -5.5°c | -5.2°c | -4.9°c | -6.6°c | -6.5°c | -6.2°c | -8.3°c | -8.2°c | -8.3°c | -10.4°c | -10.6°c | -11°c | -12.9°c | -13.2°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Light snow |
Light snow |
Dense fog |
| Wind | |
|
|
| Snow expected | 0.6 cm | 1.1 cm | 0 cm |
| Max temp | -4.8°c | -0.8°c | 2.5°c |
| Min temp | -5.8°c | -4.8°c | -0.8°c |
| Feels like temp | -11.3°c | -9.5°c | -5.7°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Light rain |
Mainly cloudy |
Mist |
| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
| Max temp | 4°c | 4.8°c | 4.8°c |
| Min temp | 3.7°c | 3.7°c | 4.4°c |
| Feels like temp | -0.3°c | -0.8°c | 0.5°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Dense fog |
Mist |
Light rain |
| Wind | |
|
|
| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
| Max temp | 3.8°c | 3.1°c | 3.6°c |
| Min temp | 2.4°c | 2.2°c | 3°c |
| Feels like temp | -0.8°c | -2.9°c | -1.7°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Light rain/snow |
Snow grains |
Fog |
| Wind | |
|
|
| Snow expected | 0.1 cm | 0.2 cm | 0 cm |
| Max temp | 2.8°c | 1.2°c | 2.1°c |
| Min temp | 1.2°c | 0.5°c | 1.2°c |
| Feels like temp | -0.4°c | -2.4°c | -2.2°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Light rain/snow |
Light rain/snow |
Light drizzle |
| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
| Max temp | 2°c | 1.9°c | 2.3°c |
| Min temp | 1.2°c | 1°c | 1.9°c |
| Feels like temp | -2°c | -3.5°c | -2.7°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Light rain/snow |
Occasional snow |
Snow grains |
| Wind | |
|
|
| Snow expected | 0.2 cm | 0.6 cm | 0.6 cm |
| Max temp | 2°c | 0°c | 0.1°c |
| Min temp | 0°c | -0.5°c | -0.3°c |
| Feels like temp | -2.6°c | -5.5°c | -5.2°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Light snow |
Light snow |
Occasional snow |
| Wind | |
|
|
| Snow expected | 1.1 cm | 1.7 cm | 0.4 cm |
| Max temp | 0°c | -0.8°c | -0.4°c |
| Min temp | -1°c | -1.4°c | -0.9°c |
| Feels like temp | -4.9°c | -6.6°c | -6.5°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Light snow |
Occasional snow |
Light snow |
| Wind | |
|
|
| Snow expected | 1.3 cm | 0.4 cm | 0.7 cm |
| Max temp | -0.3°c | -1.9°c | -1.9°c |
| Min temp | -2.1°c | -2.5°c | -2.1°c |
| Feels like temp | -6.2°c | -8.3°c | -8.2°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Light snow |
Light snow |
Snow shower |
| Wind | |
|
|
| Snow expected | 3.4 cm | 4.8 cm | 4.9 cm |
| Max temp | -2.1°c | -3.4°c | -3.6°c |
| Min temp | -3.4°c | -4.2°c | -3.9°c |
| Feels like temp | -8.3°c | -10.4°c | -10.6°c |
Resort (640m)
| Mon 23 Dec | Tue 24 Dec | Wed 25 Dec | Thu 26 Dec | Fri 27 Dec | Sat 28 Dec | Sun 29 Dec | Mon 30 Dec | Tue 31 Dec | Wed 1 Jan | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | Snow grains |
Light rain/snow |
Mainly cloudy | Light rain |
Mainly cloudy |
Rather cloudy | Rather cloudy |
Mainly cloudy |
Light rain | Light rain |
Broken clouds |
Broken clouds | Rather cloudy |
Light drizzle |
Light drizzle | Light drizzle |
Occasional rain |
Occasional rain | Light rain |
Occasional rain |
Light drizzle | Light rain |
Light drizzle |
Occasional rain | Light rain/snow |
Rain and snow |
Snow shower | Light snow shwr |
Generally clear |
Generally clear |
| Wind |  |
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| Snow expected | 0.2 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0.3 cm | 1 cm | 2.7 cm | 2.7 cm | 0.9 cm | 0.4 cm |
| Max temp | 0.6°c | 4.1°c | 6.8°c | 9.1°c | 9.5°c | 9.6°c | 7.9°c | 8.5°c | 8.5°c | 6°c | 6°c | 5°c | 6.2°c | 6.9°c | 6.8°c | 6°c | 5.5°c | 4.6°c | 4.4°c | 4.6°c | 4.1°c | 3.7°c | 3.6°c | 3°c | 1.8°c | 1.8°c | 0.8°c | -0.4°c | -0.4°c | -2.2°c |
| Min temp | -1.2°c | 0.6°c | 4.1°c | 7.9°c | 9.1°c | 8.9°c | 7.4°c | 7.9°c | 7.8°c | 5.2°c | 5°c | 4.7°c | 5°c | 6.2°c | 6.2°c | 5.1°c | 4.6°c | 4°c | 3.3°c | 4.1°c | 3.7°c | 2.8°c | 3°c | 2.1°c | 1.3°c | 0.8°c | 0.1°c | -1.4°c | -2.2°c | -2.7°c |
| Feels like temp | -1.1°c | 0.6°c | 1.3°c | 6.1°c | 7.3°c | 7.6°c | 4.9°c | 5.3°c | 6.2°c | 5.9°c | 5.7°c | 4.8°c | 3.1°c | 3.9°c | 4.5°c | 3.6°c | 2.9°c | 2.1°c | 1.2°c | 1.6°c | 1°c | 0.1°c | -0.1°c | -0.7°c | -2.1°c | -2.5°c | -3.4°c | -4.8°c | -4.8°c | -6°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
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|
| Wind | |
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|
| Snow expected | 0.2 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
| Max temp | 0.6°c | 4.1°c | 6.8°c |
| Min temp | -1.2°c | 0.6°c | 4.1°c |
| Feels like temp | -1.1°c | 0.6°c | 1.3°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
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|
| Wind | |
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|
| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
| Max temp | 9.1°c | 9.5°c | 9.6°c |
| Min temp | 7.9°c | 9.1°c | 8.9°c |
| Feels like temp | 6.1°c | 7.3°c | 7.6°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
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|
| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
| Max temp | 7.9°c | 8.5°c | 8.5°c |
| Min temp | 7.4°c | 7.9°c | 7.8°c |
| Feels like temp | 4.9°c | 5.3°c | 6.2°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
|
|
| Wind | |
|
|
| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
| Max temp | 6°c | 6°c | 5°c |
| Min temp | 5.2°c | 5°c | 4.7°c |
| Feels like temp | 5.9°c | 5.7°c | 4.8°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
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| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
| Max temp | 6.2°c | 6.9°c | 6.8°c |
| Min temp | 5°c | 6.2°c | 6.2°c |
| Feels like temp | 3.1°c | 3.9°c | 4.5°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
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|
| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
| Max temp | 6°c | 5.5°c | 4.6°c |
| Min temp | 5.1°c | 4.6°c | 4°c |
| Feels like temp | 3.6°c | 2.9°c | 2.1°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
|
|
| Wind | |
|
|
| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
| Max temp | 4.4°c | 4.6°c | 4.1°c |
| Min temp | 3.3°c | 4.1°c | 3.7°c |
| Feels like temp | 1.2°c | 1.6°c | 1°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
|
|
| Wind | |
|
|
| Snow expected | 0 cm | 0 cm | 0 cm |
| Max temp | 3.7°c | 3.6°c | 3°c |
| Min temp | 2.8°c | 3°c | 2.1°c |
| Feels like temp | 0.1°c | -0.1°c | -0.7°c |
| AM | PM | Night | |
| Weather | |
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| Wind | |
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| Snow expected | 0.3 cm | 1 cm | 2.7 cm |
| Max temp | 1.8°c | 1.8°c | 0.8°c |
| Min temp | 1.3°c | 0.8°c | 0.1°c |
| Feels like temp | -2.1°c | -2.5°c | -3.4°c |
Resort Conditions
| Snowfall | Last Snowfall | 20/12/2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Next 3 days | 1.4 cm | |
| Depths | Upper piste depth | 3 cm |
| Lower piste depth | No information | |
| Snow conditions | Snow quality | Artificial snow |
| Lifts | Lifts open | 1 out of 11 |
| Resort opening date | Fri 20 Dec 2024 | |
| Resort closing date | Sun 20 Apr 2025 |
Scotland
Updated 20/12
Damp and mild conditions suddenly break as the new weekend begins, with overnight temperatures plummeting to -15°C in parts overnight Saturday into Sunday. This will bring with it really good snowfall across the highlands, with upwards of 20cm expected down over the West Coast and a good 10cm further inland. Accompanied by high winds, there is a good deal of uncertainty as to how much of this will be able to stick around.
As Christmas Week begins, things turn mild, with positive temperatures returning across the Highlands. On the West Coast, things remain damp, with continuous shots of rain continuing throughout the week. The Grampians, however, will remain much dryer over this same period.
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