CAIRNGORM

CairnGorm Mountain has a reputation as one of the most beautiful - and sometimes challenging - places to ski in the UK, as well as boasting Scotland's only funicular railway.

Whether you're a skier or not, the ride on the train to the Ptarmigan Top Station is a unique experience with an opportunity to take in fantastic panoramic views of the surrounding area.

For non-skiers, the end of the journey offers a chance to visit Scotland's highest restaurant, shop, mountain exhibition and viewing terrace or go outside to watch ski-ing before returning to the base station by the train.

GLENCOE

The resort is situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty on Rannoch Moor and offers stunning views of the iconic Buachaille Etive Mor. The onsite campsite boasts a large camping area, hook-ups and microlodges. In summer the centre offers chairlift rides, mountain biking (Downhill and XC), tubing, hill-walking, climbing, photography and great home cooked food in the panoramic log cabin cafe. In winter skiing, snowboarding, sledging and avalanche rescue training are available and the resort has both the longest and the steepest ski run in Scotland.

Established in 1956 Glencoe is Scotland's oldest Ski centre and has a reputation as being a great venue for the more experienced skier. With stunning scenery and a great choice of runs including the famous 'flypaper' (The UK's steepest black run) Glencoe is a must visit destination for the more experienced skier and snowboarder.

GLENSHEE

Glenshee, which takes its name from the Gaelic 'Glen of the Fairies', certainly offers one of the most magical skiing experiences in Scotland.

The largest resort in the UK, it covers an area of more than 2,000 acres extending across four mountains and three valleys and boasting 21 lifts and tows.

Glenshee offers a choice of 36 runs comprising 40 kms of pisted snow. The longest single run, Glas Maol, extends to a fantastic 2 kms of skiing, while the extensive snow-making facilities means the centre is often open for longer.

NEVIS RANGE

With skiing up to 1190 metres (3,900 feet) Nevis Range reaches high on to the mountain of Aonach Mor - Scotland's eighth highest - and offers skiing and boarding late into spring.

The base of the snowsports area is accessed by the UK’s only mountain gondola taking visitors from the car park just above sea level to 650 metres (2,150 feet). The beginner's area is literally a stone’s throw away from the Snowgoose restaurant at the top station, with a variety of easy green and blue graded runs. An artificial slope also provides skiing opportunities when snow is lean.

Further up the mountain is an extensive network of red and black runs, as well as the acclaimed Boardwise terrain park.

THE LECHT

Situated in the stunning location in Eastern Cairngorms at 2,090 ft above sea level it is in the heart of Scotland’s largest National Park.

Operating since the mid 1970s, the resort has grown from one ski tow to a year-round Highland activity centre with 20 maintained ski runs and 14 lifts. This is one of Scotland’s top ski resorts and is accessible from one of the most scenically beautiful roads in Scotland, the A939, between Tomintoul and Strathdon and can be reached easily from Speyside and Aviemore, Donside and Aberdeen as well as Royal Deeside.

This natural playground offers exciting outdoor activities for both the summer and winter seasons. With on-site snow-making facilities it offers some of the most consistent snow and is ideal for all levels of skiers and snowboarders and is especially good for beginners and intermediates. The Penguin Park is open to children aged 2-8 and has a Rotondo Carousel, which allows kids to get to grips with balancing and sliding around on skis or snowboards for first time in a safe and fun way, along with many features making learning to ski or board all the more fun.