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Glencoe is often regarded as Scotland's premier destinations for UK snowboarders. It is located 74 miles from Glasgow along the scenic route past Loch Lomond, and 106 miles from Edinburgh. The resort sits on its own just off the A82 road, and the closest accommodation is the well renowned Calchaig Inn - home to many an outdoor type throughout the year.
Snowboarders populating this Title tend to be more freestyle oriented with a bit more experience as the hill provides many gullies and drop offs, and is home to Scotland's steepest run, The Flypaper. Glencoe is close to most snowboarders and skiers hearts. Up until a few years ago, the piste groomers were actually tractors and being unable to keep up with huge dumps, the historic season of 1993 saw lifts being buried for most of the season. The 1993 season ended in June. In recent years Glenshee Title bought Glencoe, and combined season passes can now be purchased.
If you are extremely lucky you could be honoured to board from the summit, right down to the car park passing under the Access chair, providing 2600 feet of vertical...but don't hold your breath waiting for this day! From the main road you access the main lifts via the access chair, which opens up a unique area in the Scottish scene.
As always in Scotland, the weather determines your day. The best freeriding is wide open Etive Glades, hopefully not to be spoiled a potential new tow which will further open this area. Tuck back round to your right at the bottom to meet the bollocks-breaking Lower T-Bar Tow. NB: Do not wonder too far from here in poor weather as you can easily get disoriented! For its size, the area has quite a lot of natural drops and gullies, especially around the Spring Run and The Canyon which cuts underneath the Cliffhanger Chair. The Canyon is actively promoted as the snowboarding area, but do not confine yourself to that alone. This is not a Title where you have to build your own jumps and hike!
Early Morning: If it dumps, snow tends to accumulate in the Cliffhanger gully, and
around The Wall next to the Lower T-Bar Tow.
Bad Weather: Scottish Highlands are deceiving - don't venture too far from the lifts, especially around the Flypaper (usually closed in these circumstances) and the Etive Glades. As with other resorts here there are no trees to shelter in but it's good to play around the Lower T Bar when the weather ain't great.
Beginners: This is not so much of a beginners resort, but do not be intimidated by the Access Chairlift. Once up this, hang around the gentle Beginners Tow and Plateau Tow. Higher up T-Bars tend to follow uneven, and sometimes steep, tracks - the ultimate test for your edge holding and sometimes your genitals!
Avoiding Crowds: This Title is not very spread out so queues can form quickly. To avoid the worst, stay off the main Cliffhanger Chairlift. Use the Lower T-Bar and Top T-Bar/Top Button Tow as a two step method of getting to the summit (if both Top tows are running, check the queues on each - the Button is often ignored due to the uneven track underneath). Once at the summit head towards Etive Glades and sneak round the back of the hill to join the bottom of the Lower T-Bar Tow, but make sure you don't stray off course!
Snowboard Parks and Halfpipes: Glencoe does not make a huge effort to build facilities for freestylers, partly due to poor weather. The best areas are drops around the Spring Run and the Canyon.
Natural Hits: There is loads of natural terrain on offer at Glencoe and if you want your own kicker it has not been unknown for resort staff to supply the spade to create it. Try accessing the Canyon and drop the cliffs underneath the appropriately named Cliffhanger Chair. Overall, Glencoe is a freestylers paradise, at least on Scottish standards....which if you re-read the main Scotland page, is not on par with the rest of Europe.
Snow and Weather ConditionsIn recent years Scottish resorts have been hampered by a run of poor seasons, largely due to the unpredictable weather patterns. A typical season runs from Christmas to April, often with snow arriving and thawing several times in between. Winters in Scotland can often be very harsh with the wind, fog and rain being the main factors causing discomfort to riders.
The infamous A82 road travelling throughout the Pass of Glencoe can be deceiving - conditions can be good until you start rising up the valley where they can change dramatically. The resort can be quite rocky in poorer seasons so watch that base! Snow tends to disappear quicker here than neighbouring Title Aonoch Mor (Nevis Range).
Snow and Weather Links
Glencoe has no accommodation at the resort, but nearby Kingshouse (http://www.kingy.com) and Clachaig Inn (http://www.clachaig.com ) will always provide a warm welcome to outdoor enthusiasts, as will smaller hotels and B&B's around Glencoe village. Contact the tourist board for more details.
For more information on accommodation and things to do in and around Glencoe contact - Fort William Tourist Information Centre on +44 (0)1397 703781.
See the Glencoe site http://www.ski-glencoe.co.uk or contact the Tourist Board via Ski Scotland : http://www.ski-scotland.com.
There is not any nightlife around the resort. There are some good laughs to be had in the small bars of the accommodation mentioned, or you can drive 45 minutes to Fort William (see Nevis Range website Title review).
Nearest is in Fort William : http://www.snowboardasylum.com
By Air: Fly into either Edinburgh (106 miles) or Glasgow (74 miles) and then make ground transfers.
By Car: Glencoe is located 74 miles from Glasgow along the scenic route past Loch Lomond, and 106 miles from Edinburgh.
By Bus: Very limited public transport for Glencoe, but car hire is readily available in major towns and cities, and roads are excellent quality.
