 Poster: A snowHead
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Do the resorts still do the semi volunteer staff model. The one where you get a pass for doing an hour or two on a lift (after training). It's such a hard business for them, but there is so much goodwill, that if they don't I wonder if they should give the issues with staffing because of our on off conditions.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Sounds decent @Peter S.
We're looking forward to getting up to Scotland at some point, but the next week doesn't look great wind-wise... 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| EwanS wrote: |
| Do the resorts still do the semi volunteer staff model. The one where you get a pass for doing an hour or two on a lift (after training). It's such a hard business for them, but there is so much goodwill, that if they don't I wonder if they should give the issues with staffing because of our on off conditions. |
Some do, keep an eye on FB etc. for requests as more stuff opens up, it's usually lunch cover. You do need to complete the training as well as you say to know which button to push when  Generally there's enough cover between Patrol and lifties to manage it but things tend to get a bit stretched.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Great stuff @Peter S! 
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https://www.winterhighland.info/general/
For comprehensive reporting on Scottish conditions.
It’s on a knife edge but Glenshee may have a lot more snow by next weekend. 50 years ago it would probably have been cold enough for them to get buried by Saturday’s precipitation.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Looking good for more snow in Scotland Hoping to get up there before long.
Seems Glencoe no longer offers free camping when the skiing is open 
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@mountainaddict, I think that's since they introduced showers and toilets available 24x7
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| mountainaddict wrote: |
Looking good for more snow in Scotland Hoping to get up there before long.
Seems Glencoe no longer offers free camping when the skiing is open
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20 pounds for a man and a women pitch is alright for private grounds. I’ve no idea if they’ll charge 10 pounds for just one body because I have taken five wives for 50 rubs and I went for free then and soon to be then there.
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Yes, £20 is fine for x2 people (irrespective of sex...) - but free of charge (as long as the slopes were open) was even better
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You know it makes sense.
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| Quote: |
| I think that's since they introduced showers and toilets available 24x7 |
I'm fairly sure the toilets (at least) were open when we camped there for free a few years ago
@kitenski, as I don't think we'd have stayed there without them...
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| Peter S wrote: |
Saturday was rather more challenging. Heavy rain all day. You have to hand it to the Scots and everyone else up at Glenshee yesterday, they are a tough lot. I didn’t hear any adults complaining and although there were plenty of small children crying, I’m sure they will quickly grow up and evolve resilience just like their parents I had my own wobbles but took courage from all those around me.  |
We were there, for the first time in 30 years, and it was certainly type-2 fun (although it really was -- can't wait to get back). Soggy, foggy, and a little boggy.
Some tips I will remind myself of in future (I don't know if there's a proper place for these):
- Rent gear down the mountain. The rental system with the line of boots is one of the more efficient (and fairer) than many an alpine setup, and the staff were doing a great job, but binding adjustment takes a certain amount of time, and you can't get through hundreds of people any faster than that... Or you could snowboard, of course.
I've skied in the rain a few times before, but not quite at this level. I will remind myself:
- Your gloves might get wet. If they do, some spares stuffed in a jacket or backpack will reduce misery.
- Similarly, you might get wet - have a more comprehensive change of clothes in the car.
- Wear highland walking gear, not Courchevel gear. Value waterproofing over "breathability".
- Most important: if the forecast says it might be rain rather than snow, assume it will be rain. If you're wrong, hooray. If you're right, you're prepared.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Yes some good points there. My gloves are still wet after Saturday. I reckon another 3 days yet before they are fully dry
This sounds encouraging for Glenshee from MWIS on Thursday:
How Wet?
Constant upland snowfall, often heavy
Hill snow likely persistent, constant heavier falls expected widely over the region, but particularly eastern areas; rain or sleet on lower slopes, higher up for a time, becoming increasingly snow in east.
However, The problem might be the snow line is too high at 800m. It really needs to get below 600m to avoid wasting all that moisture. It’s worrying that the weather warnings don’t mention anything about snow.
https://www.winterhighland.info/general/
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Tue 20-01-26 21:00; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Ski poncho is good in the rain or mix.
Can be purchased online or offline for $€£10-30 in most ski or hiking stores worldwide.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Funny - I was telling my daughter how back then I had skied wearing a bicycle cape held in place using a Tilley lamp. She said “you are using a lot of words I don’t understand”.
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MWIS sounding bullish
Planning Outlook
Sustained gale force easterlies over most mountains into the weekend, powerful gusts downslope toward west; severe chill factor. Colder air and lowering freezing level moves into Scotland on Friday, much mountain terrain then frozen into the weekend and early next week. Substantial snowfalls over eastern Scottish hills later this week, drier to the west. Dropping just below freezing on high tops in England and Wales - a mix of rain and high level snow, turning colder further south over the weekend, with freezing level dropping to the southern Pennines summits next week. Circulating low pressure and cold air into next week, with further snowfalls likely. Lower wind speeds early in the new week, but then likely increasing E-SE'ly again.
Three days of persistent snow at Glenshee, though the snow line is higher than ideal. The warm North Sea is probably increasing the levels of saturation but also raising the freezing level. Might help keep the road open however.
https://www.mwis.org.uk/forecasts/scottish/southeastern-highlands
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Well it's snowing here just now and temp has been steadily falling all night. Forecast certainly does set up as a decent amount of snow with wind which is what we like as the fences catch it all and means we can push more out. Lovely. Bring it on.
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| Quote: |
Well it's snowing here just now and temp has been steadily falling all night.
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I'm on tenter hooks with these forecasts and will there/won't there be low-level snow! What altitude & location is "here" @orange?
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Ah sorry. Glenshee Base about 654m.
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| orange wrote: |
| Well it's snowing here just now and temp has been steadily falling all night. Forecast certainly does set up as a decent amount of snow with wind which is what we like as the fences catch it all and means we can push more out. Lovely. Bring it on. |
Really appreciate the updates, thank you
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Quote: |
Ah sorry. Glenshee Base about 654m.
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Great stuff @orange - ta!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@mountainaddict, imho the secret to Scottish skiing is to drive up the day before the storm is due to stop with better weather forecast! I remember a trip where I did that, sat in glencoe car park awaiting the wind to die which it did and getting first tracks all over the mountain!!
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You know it makes sense.
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Sounds a decent plan @kitenski
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Looks like Glenshee and Glencoe have had a good fall. At Cairngorm it looks rather wind blown. The forecast is for snow to continue all tomorrow at Glenshee and then on and off till Wednesday. Temperatures are just the right side of marginal. A degree or two less and the road would have buried. 
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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The tunnel mouth is buried by the south easterly snow and is currently being dug out. Looks like a good cover is building at Glenshee. The rumour last weekend was that Glas Maol and Coire Fionn Pomas have been tested after not running for 5 years. Must be a skiable cover building now on Meal Odhar?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Peter S wrote: |
| The rumour last weekend was that Glas Maol and Coire Fionn Pomas have been tested after not running for 5 years. Must be a skiable cover building now on Meal Odhar? |
I hope the rumour is true (and that the snow comes) - I've got a week in Braemar with some friends later in February, it would be great if Glas Maol is open!
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There’s a lovely pub in Braemar that does good food. Hope to get back up there once they open some more lifts.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Peter S wrote: |
| There’s a lovely pub in Braemar that does good food. Hope to get back up there once they open some more lifts. |
Farquharsons?
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Yes. Very pleasant.
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So there’s been a decent amount of snow but it’s quite wet, not too bad but it’s now gone much colder and drying out fast. Plus it’s still snowing. GM and CF have indeed been run in recent history but they will need some love as and when we get out there. The main issue these days is not the cover on the hills, the burns in between don’t freeze as much and so the snow bridges required for the machines don’t exist. I was on GM 2 weeks ago and it was lovely, just getting there was a bit complicated. But it’s staying cold and snow carry’s on so fingers crossed.
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Does anybody have any snowfall data. I'm seeing images of a buried Ptarmigan on FB.
It all looks very dramatic. I imagine they had a big digging Crewe on the railway tunnel as well.
No pun intended Crewe.....railway!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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That’s because it’s in a crap place and the drifts pile in against it. Whole railway was built in entirely the wrong spot for that exact issue. They have snow but same as everywhere else it’s been lurking windy !
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I've just been looking at the Nevis Range website, as I was wondering if they have any plans to open at all for snowsports this winter following the ongoing gondola closure for maintenance.
I can't see any updates on the gondola, (which will still open 'as soon as possible' after closure from 5.1.26) but did come across their recently-published operational plan - see excerpt below.
Sadly, it does little to fill we snowsports enthusiasts with any confidence Just the opposite in fact... 
It's interesting that there was insufficient demand last winter to justify 'full (snowsports) operations.' Did they actually open at all?
It seems that Nevis Range has become a sad, self-fulfilling prophecy in terms of snowsports. People now assume it's just never open, so don't even bother checking. Hence, no demand for opening for snowsports.
It appears that they have decided that closing the gondola for maintenance at the current time (when snowsports could possibly have been open??) is less lucrative than say in late autumn, as this would seriously inconvenience the coffee-and-cake-eating, gondola-visiting coach parties etc  All very sad in my opinion - over the years we've had some fantastic days at Nevis Range (Back Corries and all).
| Quote: |
A Fundamentally Changed Revenue Profile:
More than 50% of visitors to Nevis Range now originate from international markets, either through destination management company partnerships, the travel trade, or direct international bookings. This shift has reshaped demand across the business, including gondola usage, hospitality, whisky experiences, accommodation, retail and off-peak adventure activity.
Looking ahead, just under 50% of forecast Group profits will be generated by the international division, while more than half of Scotland-based profits will come from international visitors travelling to Nevis Range. For a Highland attraction, this represents a significant change in commercial structure, resilience and long-term sustainability.
Global Expansion with Physical Presence:
Nevis Range’s international strategy is practical rather than aspirational. The Group now has a physically established brand presence in Dubai, with Wild Woven operating as a tangible, on-the-ground expression of modern Scottish identity and craft.
This will be followed by physical brand expansion in Singapore, Italy and Switzerland, where groundwork is already underway. These markets align closely with inbound tourism demand, premium retail and cultural travel, and form part of a deliberate strategy to widen visitor pipelines, attract international investment and reduce reliance on a constrained domestic market.
Mountain Biking, Public Funding and Commercial Reality:
Highlands and Islands Enterprise has recently awarded approximately £3.5 million of public funding to other Scottish mountain resorts, with around £1.7 million allocated to Cairngorm. Of that funding, approximately £1.2 million was provided specifically to cover operating losses.
By contrast, Nevis Range has delivered a break-even year without reliance on loss-covering public subsidy, while continuing to invest in growth, diversification and international expansion.
Nevis Range is not entitled to, nor eligible for, taxpayer bail-out funding. As a result, operating decisions must always be grounded in commercial discipline. Activities must have a clear and credible path to profitability, and the business cannot compete in areas where sustained losses are offset elsewhere by significant public subsidy.
Mountain Biking and Global Economics:
Scottish Government funding for the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup ended following a shift by Warner Bros., a global entertainment corporation, which was required to increase its financial demands due to the escalating costs of delivering major international events in the UK. These increases were not venue-related but driven by wider operational and regulatory pressures that now make the UK one of the most expensive environments globally for staging elite sport.
Despite this, Nevis Range has continued to deliver a diversified mountain biking programme, maintain Scotland’s international presence in the sport, and invest in participation-led and youth events that demonstrate strong long-term potential.
Climate Reality and Operational Decisions:
Climate change is not theoretical for Nevis Range. With more than 35 years of operational data, the business has clear evidence that winter conditions have changed.
Last season, despite intermittent summit snow, there was insufficient snow for uplift, insufficient build-up to construct a temporary get-on at Tower 4 of the Goose, and insufficient demand to justify the economics of full operations. These decisions were operationally unavoidable.
As a result, Nevis Range continues to prioritise year-round activity, diversification and international demand rather than reliance on increasingly unpredictable winter conditions.
Operational Performance Across the Mountain:
All businesses now operated directly by Nevis Range, including the hotel, food operations and retail units, are generating higher turnover and stronger profitability than under previous operation. This reflects tighter operational control, clearer brand alignment, and a renewed focus on customer experience, with a stronger emphasis on Scottish products and local crafts.
Customer service and experience remain core competitive advantages for Nevis Range.
Activities and the Path Forward:
The Activities area has faced sustained pressure due to regulatory changes, prolonged downtime of the Blue run and variable operating conditions. Despite this, youth mountain biking events have continued to perform strongly and remain central to the sport strategy.
Having the Blue fully operational for the entire 2026 season will be transformative. Combined with an expanded calendar of youth events, national-level races and wider cycling weekends, Nevis Range is positioned for renewed momentum. A refreshed mountain biking strategy will be announced in early 2025.
E-Commerce and New Brand Launches:
From 2026 onward, the Group will launch several new brands rooted in the e-commerce sector. These initiatives are designed to diversify income, create year-round revenue streams and strengthen the international growth strategy that underpins long-term sustainability.
Leadership and Structure:
As part of this next phase, leadership responsibilities are evolving.
Chris O’Brien will focus on the role of Group CEO, concentrating on international expansion, global partnerships, international sales, e-commerce, franchising and overall financial leadership.
John Sutherland will lead the Scottish operation as Managing Director, bringing decades of experience on the mountain, deep expertise in biking and rescue, and a strong commercial and creative approach to the future of Nevis Range in Scotland.
This is not a step away from Scotland.
It is a reinforcement of Scotland.
Looking Ahead:
Nevis Range is no longer a single-site, weather-dependent attraction. It is becoming a multi-brand, internationally active organisation, operating with financial discipline while continuing to grow, diversify and invest.
The mountain remains our home.
The future we are building is resilient, responsible and global. |
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