Believe it or not, you can ski in Scotland and England on real snow. You don't have to travel far to have some fun in the snow, and the UK's unpredictable weather means that windows of powder can open as late as mid-spring.
Here is our expert guide to the best places to go skiing in Scotland, Northern England and the rest of the UK for all ages and levels of ability. We have included great options for both outside in the fresh mountain air, and indoors at dry slopes and indoor centres. Have fun!
Best ski resorts in Scotland
Glenshee, Aberdeenshire
Glenshee claims to have the most extensive skiing areas in the UK, with 25 miles of downhill runs over four mountains. There are 22 lifts and 36 runs, offering an amazing diversity of natural terrain for all standards of skiers and snowboarders. The ski centre at Braemar is open for skiing and snowboarding from mid December to April, and the Base Cafe is open 7 days a week during the ski season - and Wednesday-Sunday out of the season.
There are wide open pistes, sheltered expanses, jumps, a natural half-pipe and a testing slalom race track. This does make it a popular site on days with good conditions, but if you book online you can skip the queues at the ticket office. There is on-site equipment hire, as well as ski and snowboard lessons provided by third party schools.
Lecht, Aberdeenshire
Lecht 2090 stands, as the name suggests, 2,090ft (637m) above sea level amid the beauty of the Eastern Cairngorms, and is a great resort for beginners.
One of the smaller resorts in Scotland with shorter runs, it’s popular with families but not as busy as other resorts. As the site is within the Cairngorms National Park you can enjoy the amazing scenery without all the crowds – especially if you go on a weekday.
Even at the weekend, Lecht makes a good alternative to the busier Cairngorm resort at Aviemore. The ski centre has a cafe bar serving hot food and drinks. There is also a hire centre for equipment.
More things to do in the Cairngorms:
Cairngorm Mountain, Aviemore
Cairngorm Mountain has now been offering snowsports for over 50 years, and is one of Scotland's most popular destinations for skiers and snowboarders. Depending on weather, the snowsport season typically runs from December to April and there are 13 lifts, plus a funicular railway to get you to the mountain top - though check online to see whether it's running. At the top, you can enjoy stunning views before making use of the 30km of ski runs ranging from green to black. The centre operates a ski and snowboard school with lessons for all ability levels and equipment hire is also available on site. There is a café offering hot drinks and light refreshments.
Nevis Range, Fort William, Scotland
Nevis Range Scotland’s ski area on Aonach Mor is open from late December to March and has 12 miles of pistes. The runs of the Nevis range are surrounded by some spectacular scenery, and also include more advanced off-piste runs.
Glencoe Mountain Resort, Argyll
Glencoe Mountain resort has 20 runs of varying grades and 8 different lifts, so it can cater for skiers and boarders of all levels. Beginners can stick to practising on the gentle plateau runs while experienced skiers and boarders can make use of some of the best natural terrain in Scotland, including some incredibly long and steep runs. The resort offers group and private lessons, a great café and plenty of accommodation in the form of microlodges and tent pitches. Equipment can be hired on-site.
Walks in Glencoe:
- Walk: Glencoe village and Glencoe Lochan, Highland
- Lost Valley walk, Glencoe, Highland
- Where was Harry Potter filmed? Our guide to the Harry Potter film locations
Best ski resorts in England
Ski-Allenheads, Northumberland
Don’t let the fact that you need to a be a member put you off skiing at Allenheads. Membership is easy to come by and costs less than a couple of days skiing at large commercial resorts. Allenheads Ski Club welcomes all abilities and it’s a great place to get started on the slopes. Two rope tows are in place, so keep an eye on the snow report on the site for details of when it’s suitable to ski.
The site has a cabin, and the village of Allenheads is just a (very) short walk away, and provides toilets, the Hemmel Cafe and the Allenheads Inn.
Yad Moss, Cumbria
Yad Moss has the longest single-button lift in England, while the Pennines’ dales and high plateaus are ideal for cross-country.
Like Allenheads, Yad Moss is a membership-based slope but it’s also possible to buy day tickets. The ski area has a button tow about 600m long. It is suitable for intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders but isn't suitable for the inexperienced.
In good snow conditions there are about eight blue/red ski runs of up to 800m in length. The lack of rocks and grassy surface means that skiing is often possible at Yad Moss when other, rockier slopes don’t have enough snow to stay open. There are composting toilets and a daylodge on site to provide shelter, but you’ll need to bring your own food and drink. Do check the site before travelling as on busy days the number of day tickets is sometimes restricted. Bring cash as there are no card payment facilities.
Discover the snowiest places in Britain and how to make the most of a rare snow day.
Lake District Ski Club, Raise, north of Helvellyn, Lake District National Park
You need membership to ski at this volunteer-led club (or pay £20 for a daily guest pass) but it's not for the faint-hearted: Raise is about an hour’s steep hike from the nearby village of Glenridding, so walking poles are a good idea, and bring crampons if it’s icy. Don’t forget warm clothes, food and drink. The runs are over rugged terrain and vary greatly depending on the weather - it’s worth asking the operators which are suitable when you arrive. There is a members hut at the top station with heating, electricity, a kettle and a toilet.
It gets the best snow conditions in the Lakes, and there are up to nine pistes available (depending on conditions), the longest of which is almost a mile. Its a good option for experienced skiiers and snowboarders.
Weardale Ski Resort, County Durham
Weardale Ski Club was established in 1963, and offers real-snow skiing on Swinhope Moor. The site relies on volunteers to run (they always welcome extra hands!) and visitors shouldn’t expect a glossy ski resort, but what facilities they have are well-maintained, and include two permanent button tows and a two storey ski lodge and workshop. Full membership is open to everyone but is closed once they reach their maximum number. Day tickets are available on weekdays, while weekends are reserved for full members. Ski-days depend on conditions and if there are people available to operate the tows, so it’s worth phoning to check if you’re planning a visit.
Britain’s best dry ski slopes and indoor centres
Even if you can’t get out to one of the ‘natural’ resorts, you can still experience some good skiing. Unlike dry-ski slopes, the indoor centres below all have ‘real’ snow – so you'll still want to take your warm clothes!
Snozone, Milton Keynes
Europe’s largest indoor real-snow resort, Snozone caters to all abilities. The Milton Keynes centre has a main slope of 175m, plus a gym, shops, cinema, bowling alley and café/bar/restaurant. Lessons and refresher courses are on offer as well as sledging and an ice-slide – both great for kids.
Snozone, Castleford, West Yorkshire
Castleford’s main slope is 150m long, and there's also a nursery slope of 40m for beginners. The site is pretty extensive and along with the usual equipment hire centre and café/restaurant there are indoor and outdoor skate parks, a bowling alley, cinema and aerial assault course.
The Snow Centre, Hemel Hempstead
The Snow Centre’s main slope is 160m, and it also has an 100m long teaching slope. Along with a café and restaurant there is a shop and equipment hire, plus tobogganing and freestyle sessions. Lessons are available for anyone who wants them, and a broad range of ticket options means you can spend as much or as little time on the slopes as you like.
Chill Factore, Trafford Quays, Manchester
Along with an 180m main slope and a dedicated beginner’s area, Chill Factore also boasts a terrain park with jumps and rails that is great for freestyling (lessons are on offer for anyone who is new to freestyle). If you fancy a break from skiing, the centre also has a climbing wall, tubing lanes, shops (including equipment hire), restaurants and bars.
Snowdome, Tamworth
Tamworth has a main slope of 170 metres, plus two nursery slopes (30 metres and 25 metres), meaning it can offer a range of skiing for all ages and abilities (equipment is included in the ticket price.) Ice skating, tubing and sledging are also available as alternatives to skiing or boarding, along with a gym and swimming pool. There are a few café/restaurants if you get peckish.
