Cairngorm Mountain

Located above the resort town of Aviemore in the Cairngorms National Park, Cairngorm Mountain is perhaps Scotland’s best-known resort.

weather Forecast today: Rather cloudy

Max temp: 7.5 °c
Min temp: 6 °c
Last snowed: Mon 27 Jan

Last Updated: Tue 04 Mar

weather Forecast today: Rather cloudy

Max temp: 7.5 °c
Min temp: 6 °c
Last snowed: Mon 27 Jan

Last Updated: Tue 04 Mar

31%Easy

29%Beginner

31%Intermediate

9%Advanced

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

Pros 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.

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Top (1096m)

	Tue 4 Mar			Wed 5 Mar			Thu 6 Mar			Fri 7 Mar			Sat 8 Mar			Sun 9 Mar			Mon 10 Mar			Tue 11 Mar			Wed 12 Mar			Thu 13 Mar
	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	Wind gusts	Light rain/snow	Light rain	Light rain	Light drizzle	Light drizzle	Dense fog	Rather cloudy	Light drizzle	Dense fog	Light rain/snow	Light rain/snow	Light rain/snow	Light rain/snow	Light rain/snow	Mist	Freezing fog	Light rain/snow	Light snow	Light snow	Light rain/snow	Light snow	Light snow	Occasional snow	Occasional snow	Rather cloudy	Occasional snow	Generally clear	Partly cloudy	Broken clouds
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 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	0.1 cm	0.4 cm	0.2 cm	2.1 cm	2.7 cm	0.9 cm	1 cm	1.5 cm	0.4 cm	0.3 cm	0.2 cm	0.2 cm	0.2 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	1.1°c	0.8°c	2.2°c	3°c	3.2°c	2.4°c	1.2°c	2.3°c	2.1°c	1.7°c	2.1°c	1.2°c	1.5°c	1.9°c	1.3°c	2.1°c	2.1°c	-0.4°c	-1.9°c	-1.8°c	-3.2°c	-3.4°c	-3.1°c	-4°c	-3°c	-2.8°c	-3.6°c	-2.4°c	-2.2°c	-3.1°c
Min temp	-0.1°c	0°c	0.8°c	2.5°c	2.4°c	2.3°c	-0.1°c	1.2°c	1.5°c	1.1°c	0.9°c	0.8°c	0.6°c	1.2°c	0.8°c	-0.6°c	-0.4°c	-1.5°c	-2.5°c	-3.3°c	-3.7°c	-4.2°c	-4°c	-4.5°c	-5°c	-3.6°c	-4.2°c	-4.9°c	-3.1°c	-3.7°c
Feels like temp	-5°c	-7.2°c	-6°c	-3°c	-2.8°c	-3.1°c	-5.6°c	-4.6°c	-4°c	-2.8°c	-1.8°c	0.8°c	-2.8°c	-2.6°c	-2.3°c	-4°c	-1.5°c	-4.6°c	-8.6°c	-8.1°c	-9.2°c	-9.7°c	-8.8°c	-9°c	-9.5°c	-7.6°c	-6.9°c	-8.3°c	-6.3°c	-6.7°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Wind gusts	Light rain/snow	Light rain
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	1.1°c	0.8°c	2.2°c
Min temp	-0.1°c	0°c	0.8°c
Feels like temp	-5°c	-7.2°c	-6°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Light rain	Light drizzle	Light drizzle
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	3°c	3.2°c	2.4°c
Min temp	2.5°c	2.4°c	2.3°c
Feels like temp	-3°c	-2.8°c	-3.1°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Dense fog	Rather cloudy	Light drizzle
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	1.2°c	2.3°c	2.1°c
Min temp	-0.1°c	1.2°c	1.5°c
Feels like temp	-5.6°c	-4.6°c	-4°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Dense fog	Light rain/snow	Light rain/snow
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0.1 cm	0.2 cm
Max temp	1.7°c	2.1°c	1.2°c
Min temp	1.1°c	0.9°c	0.8°c
Feels like temp	-2.8°c	-1.8°c	0.8°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Light rain/snow	Light rain/snow	Light rain/snow
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	1.5°c	1.9°c	1.3°c
Min temp	0.6°c	1.2°c	0.8°c
Feels like temp	-2.8°c	-2.6°c	-2.3°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Mist	Freezing fog	Light rain/snow
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0.4 cm	0.2 cm
Max temp	2.1°c	2.1°c	-0.4°c
Min temp	-0.6°c	-0.4°c	-1.5°c
Feels like temp	-4°c	-1.5°c	-4.6°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Light snow	Light snow	Light rain/snow
Wind
Snow expected	2.1 cm	2.7 cm	0.9 cm
Max temp	-1.9°c	-1.8°c	-3.2°c
Min temp	-2.5°c	-3.3°c	-3.7°c
Feels like temp	-8.6°c	-8.1°c	-9.2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Light snow	Light snow	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	1 cm	1.5 cm	0.4 cm
Max temp	-3.4°c	-3.1°c	-4°c
Min temp	-4.2°c	-4°c	-4.5°c
Feels like temp	-9.7°c	-8.8°c	-9°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Occasional snow	Rather cloudy	Occasional snow
Wind
Snow expected	0.3 cm	0.2 cm	0.2 cm
Max temp	-3°c	-2.8°c	-3.6°c
Min temp	-5°c	-3.6°c	-4.2°c
Feels like temp	-9.5°c	-7.6°c	-6.9°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather	Generally clear	Partly cloudy	Broken clouds
Wind
Snow expected	0.2 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	-2.4°c	-2.2°c	-3.1°c
Min temp	-4.9°c	-3.1°c	-3.7°c
Feels like temp	-8.3°c	-6.3°c	-6.7°c

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Resort (640m)

	Tue 4 Mar			Wed 5 Mar			Thu 6 Mar			Fri 7 Mar			Sat 8 Mar			Sun 9 Mar			Mon 10 Mar			Tue 11 Mar			Wed 12 Mar			Thu 13 Mar
	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	Rather cloudy	Wind gusts	Occasional rain	Light rain	Mainly cloudy	Overcast	Partly cloudy	Broken clouds	Light drizzle	Light rain shwr	Occasional rain	Light rain	Light rain	Occasional rain	Light drizzle	Generally clear	Generally clear	Light drizzle	Light rain/snow	Occasional rain	Light rain/snow	Light rain/snow	Light rain/snow	Partly cloudy	Rather cloudy	Broken clouds	Generally clear	Generally clear	Generally clear	Partly cloudy
Wind
Snow expected	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	0.1 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm	0.1 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	7°c	7.5°c	7.4°c	9.6°c	9.7°c	9°c	8.4°c	9.3°c	7.9°c	8.1°c	8.4°c	6.6°c	8°c	8.6°c	7°c	8.3°c	8.4°c	5.6°c	4.7°c	4.9°c	2.7°c	3.5°c	4°c	2°c	3.7°c	4.2°c	2.2°c	4.6°c	4.9°c	2.6°c
Min temp	6°c	7°c	7.3°c	7.9°c	9°c	7.8°c	5.1°c	7.9°c	7.2°c	6°c	6.6°c	5.1°c	4.8°c	7°c	4.8°c	3.3°c	5.6°c	3°c	1.7°c	2.7°c	1.1°c	0.4°c	2°c	-0.2°c	-0.9°c	2.2°c	0°c	-0.8°c	2.6°c	0.4°c
Feels like temp	3°c	3.3°c	3.7°c	5.1°c	7.2°c	6.6°c	2.3°c	5.7°c	5.3°c	4.6°c	7.9°c	6.4°c	4.6°c	7.9°c	6.9°c	3.1°c	8°c	5.3°c	-1.7°c	1.6°c	-0.3°c	0.4°c	1.2°c	1.8°c	-0.9°c	3.4°c	2°c	-0.8°c	4.2°c	2.4°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	7°c	7.5°c	7.4°c
Min temp	6°c	7°c	7.3°c
Feels like temp	3°c	3.3°c	3.7°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	9.6°c	9.7°c	9°c
Min temp	7.9°c	9°c	7.8°c
Feels like temp	5.1°c	7.2°c	6.6°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	8.4°c	9.3°c	7.9°c
Min temp	5.1°c	7.9°c	7.2°c
Feels like temp	2.3°c	5.7°c	5.3°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	8.1°c	8.4°c	6.6°c
Min temp	6°c	6.6°c	5.1°c
Feels like temp	4.6°c	7.9°c	6.4°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	8°c	8.6°c	7°c
Min temp	4.8°c	7°c	4.8°c
Feels like temp	4.6°c	7.9°c	6.9°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	8.3°c	8.4°c	5.6°c
Min temp	3.3°c	5.6°c	3°c
Feels like temp	3.1°c	8°c	5.3°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0 cm	0 cm	0 cm
Max temp	4.7°c	4.9°c	2.7°c
Min temp	1.7°c	2.7°c	1.1°c
Feels like temp	-1.7°c	1.6°c	-0.3°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	3.5°c	4°c	2°c
Min temp	0.4°c	2°c	-0.2°c
Feels like temp	0.4°c	1.2°c	1.8°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	3.7°c	4.2°c	2.2°c
Min temp	-0.9°c	2.2°c	0°c
Feels like temp	-0.9°c	3.4°c	2°c

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	AM	PM	Night
Weather
Wind
Snow expected	0.1 cm	0 cm	0.1 cm
Max temp	4.6°c	4.9°c	2.6°c
Min temp	-0.8°c	2.6°c	0.4°c
Feels like temp	-0.8°c	4.2°c	2.4°c

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Resort Conditions

Snowfall	Last Snowfall	27/01/2025
Snowfall	Next 3 days	No information
Depths	Upper piste depth	10 cm
Depths	Lower piste depth	5 cm
Snow conditions	Snow quality	Artificial snow
Lifts	Lifts open	4 out of 11
	Resort opening date	Fri 20 Dec 2024
	Resort closing date	Sun 20 Apr 2025

Snow Overview

Scotland

Updated 28/02

A geographic split in conditions this week, with the Best Coast seeing cold conditions at upper elevations and a few flurries of snow moving in across the region over this weekend. Conversely, the Cairngorms remain cool but otherwise dry.

Conditions turn mild through Tuesday as a storm system moves over the Highlands; this will bring temperatures of +5° across the region, high winds for a number of locations, and plenty of rain too through the middle of the week.

Snow & Weather Forecasts Avalanche Forecast

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