by Clare Sellar
13.12.2009
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© Kapungo
There’s a certain checklist involved when planning a skiing trip: snow, mountain views, professional runs, tranquil surroundings, warming aprés ski... all things you might associate with, say, an exclusive Italian resort, and always involving a flight, right?
Not necessarily. Believe it or not, the UK has a wide range of winter sporting activities available right here; to enjoy if you can’t afford to splash out on the adjoining holiday, or if you are just topping up your ‘serious’ snow-time.
If unpredictable weather means it’s got to be indoor, then it has to be real snow. That leaves the SNO!zones at Milton Keynes, Castleford and Glasgow, or Tamworth Snowdome, the Chill Factore in Manchester and The Snow Centre, Hemel Hempstead. All are great for getting in some practice, or for trying out family friendly alternatives like snow bobbing or tubing.
Outdoors, real snow requires the altitude and latitude of our islands’ northernmost quarters; but at least you’re still saving on the cost of airfare both in cash and in environmental terms. So, whatever your sport, whatever your level, get out there and make the most of the UK and the most of our short snow season.
Skiing
Scotland
The UK’s best snowfall and most dramatic scenery are found in the Scottish highlands. Stretching from Glencoe in the West, all the way to The Lecht in the East, there are five separate resorts, each with a wide variety of runs for all levels, equipment hire, lifts, refreshments and ski schools. Each resort has its own website, with up-to-the minute weather-cams. The Ski Scotland tourist board says: “If it’s off-piste you’re after, then the Nevis range is for you. There is a large area to the back of the mountain, but just be sure to ask staff if conditions are suitable that day.”
The best way to keep ahead of the unpredictable weather is to buy an annual Ski Scotland All Area Season Pass: valid from December 2009 until October 2010 and costing £439 for adults (£247 for children). You gain access to all Scottish ski centres, for a fraction of the price of a break abroad,....
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Comments (25)
Melissa
25:02:2010
This is great :)
Janet
23:02:2010
Its great that winter sports are being promoted here in the UK.
ANNE
23:02:2010
What did one snowman say to the other snowman? Do you smell carrots?
Sarah
22:02:2010
Great article and glad we had decent snow here in the UK for the first time in years,so we can promote some sport and fun in the snow!
Gill Abrahams
21:02:2010
The is the first real 'winter' we've had in the UK for years. Nice to be able to even think of snowy sports here. Rain and slush just don't help sports or spirits!
Linda Hine
09:02:2010
Great to think of all the things we can do in the UK without having to travel abroad
Barbara Shaw
08:02:2010
Great article and good to see that Britains winter sports are getting mention and promoted.
Anne Tozer
05:02:2010
The perfect year in Scotland for learning to snowboard - weeks of lovely snow. Wouldn't say I'm an expert, but certainly got plenty of practice in.
Miriam Salo
03:02:2010
We went up Pen Y Fan with snowboards and had some lovely powder snow off the track. It was brilliant, first time snowboarding, and in UK! Beautiful up there in the snow as well.
Kathryn Bailey
28:01:2010
I used to live in Dundee and went up to Glenshee to ski every Saturday and Sunday during the season. We once were snowed in there overnight - along with 2000 other people! When the rescuers reopened the road, our Land Rover wouldn't start because snow was packed so tightly round the engine, so we had to get towed back to Blairgowrie. You see, you don't have to go abroad for thrills and excitement!
Jackie
28:01:2010
Last year I went snowboarding in Scotland. To be honest I had low expectations but it was so much better than I was expecting and I really enjoyed it.
Jenny Featherstone
28:01:2010
My daughter used a boogie board to sledge/slide around and had great fun whilst school was closed.
William Harding
27:01:2010
Winter Wonderland? What was amazing was driving past a Laplan UK (just before Xmas) and seeing "Closed due to snow"
Maggie
27:01:2010
It certainly has been a picure postcard Winter Wonderland around here these last few weeks.
Karen
27:01:2010
we used our sit on mower attached the sledge to it and pulled our son around the garden its was good fun
nichola jones
27:01:2010
nothing better than spending the cold winter day sledging with the children who needs the alps plenty of hills round here
Harry Martin
26:01:2010
My friend and I took full advantage of the snow by building a ramp at the bottom of our hill out of the white gold itself. We ploughed down towards it on our toboggan at speed and took off! It was very scary before take off, but it definatley beats school!!!
Kay Stenson
26:01:2010
Years ago my dad used to give us a carrier bags to slide down on! There's nothing like a good old-fashioned sledge though.
Kelly
26:01:2010
I loved sledging when I was young in a plastic baby bath and on my dad's homemade sledge
Rozinna
26:01:2010
Daughter used a kayak on the snow last weekend at explorer scout camp! There were 6 of them bundled on there... no injuries but plenty of fun!
Jennifer Kelly
26:01:2010
I have loved all the snow, I used to sledge on my Nan's tea tray!! I can't wait for my kids to get a bit older so I can take them to Moel Famau for some fun in the snow!!
David Kerr
26:01:2010
Pity sledging tends to end when the cheap plastic sledges they make these days fall apart !
Stacey
26:01:2010
I never knew you could do all this in the UK especially in places other than Scotland! I would love to go to Milton Keynes to go to skiing and snowboarding, always been my dream to do it one day but the holidays seem so expensive so it would be great to fulfill this in the UK!!
Karen
26:01:2010
Snow holing sounds terrifying, but magical at the same time.
Kelly
26:01:2010
never tried skiing or anything before, apart from sledging when i was little! bet its fun x
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