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Visitor reviews for Nevis Range Ski Resort
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(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
Latest
February 27, 2015
Ian chick from
United Kingdom
Ian chick from
United Kingdom
February 24, 2013
Schmeagle from
United Kingdom
Schmeagle from
United Kingdom
Just returned (Feb 2013) from my second trip to Scotland's suposed best skiing and yet again, for the second year running, at the height of the season there was absolutely no snow. Now, whilst I agree that that is uncontrollable, what I'm annoyed about are the blatant lies that Nevis Range and the neighbouring Glencoe unashamedly band about on their websites and at the base station. '40cm of hard packed snow' and 'good riding conditions on a firm base' really translates to frozen mud and grass with rocks everywhere. Unfortunately, you cannot observe this without taking the gondola up first. It was quite sad to see people exiting the top gondola station, fully equipped with helmets, boots, etc only to be met with zero lifts operating with the 'All runs groomed and open' pistes (thin strips of icy mud) only accessible by yomping up the mountain! And they were charging £30 for the pleasure! The whole place looks run down and like a leisure centre from the 1970s.
Also, Fort William is not somewhere to find 'apres-ski'. It's an ugly looking council estate with a Morrisons as the main attraction.
Spend your money on a Ryanair or Easyjet ticket for the weekend and go somewhere with snow, lower prices and a bit of culture.
January 06, 2011
BigAl from
United Kingdom
BigAl from
United Kingdom
Here,here hootsman!
I have been skiing in all resorts in Scotland for about 26 years now and certainly the last few years have been a godsend in terms of snowfall- I remember skiing every week from November till May back in the late eighties/early ninities with some decent snowfalls.
I have also skied all over europe, Austria, Italy, France and Switzerland and as much as it is great for the weather (most of the time!!), some of the best days skiing, both sunshine and snow conditions I've had, have been in Scotland. You need to do it more than a few times here to appreciate what it has to offer.. The fact that I'm passionate about my country may help a little........
May 13, 2010
hootsmun from
United Kingdom
hootsmun from
United Kingdom
The Nevis Range is good for intermediate to advanced boarders/skiers and there are a couple of slopes for beginners, though they can have poor cover as they are on the lower part of the mountain. Nevis has nice groomers, steeps, great off-piste and a decent park. I have had some of my best days snowboarding in the back corries (I have snowboarded extensively in Scotland, the Alps and Canada for 12yrs). Though being Scotland the weather can be very unpredictable. You can be skiing/boarding on ice with rain/gales lashing your face, then the next day you will have sunshine with 30cm of powder. To get it right you need to study the weather forecast and then with a bit of luck you will have a great day boarding/skiing.
Nevis Range also has some of the best views in Scotland. Time it right for amazing sunsets.
2009/10 has been an amazing season with tons of powder and blue bird days.
For apres-ski - the Clachaig Inn in Glencoe (25 miles south) has a great bar with regular live music, good food, guest beers and a massive whisky selection. It also has rooms to stay or there are 2 hostels less than a mile away.
In comment to an earlier poor review: This person is obviously a one week a year skier and not a purist of snowsports. This person should also remember that Scotland has one of the most unpredictable weather systems in the world, weather forecasts should be used as a guide. The sort of people who moan about breaking a finger nail should go abroad and leave it to people who genuinely enjoy the challenge, thrill and beautiful scenery of Scottish snowsports.
Scotland's ski areas are hugely valuable to the local snowsport community and long may they stay!
I hope that when people read these reviews, they realise that a person who has visited any ski area once can not give a realistic view on that ski area!
April 06, 2010
Dave M from
United Kingdom
Dave M from
United Kingdom
Visited Nevis Range as a family at the start of April 2010 and had a fantastic time. We all enjoyed riding up in the gondola. A fresh dump of snow on the previous 2 days and a clear blue sky set up great conditions. Being beginners we had lessons, snowboarding for the boys and skiing for the wife and myself. By the end we were taking the T-bar to the top of the mountain and skiing/boarding red runs (with caution) coming down the 'Goose' - in powder snow conditions - fantastic!. Would definitely recommend. However, as some other reviews have indicated, I think snow conditions lower down on the beginner slopes at Nevis Range can become variable and patchy and when mild weather sets in and the snow melts.
April 06, 2010
S from
United Kingdom
S from
United Kingdom
Just had one of my best ever days skiing anywhere at Nevis Range this Good Friday 2010. I have skiied all over the world in Europe, NZ and South America, and that one day ranked with the best day I've had anywhere in the world. The back corries were stunning, there were no queues at the lifts, and I didn't cross a track all day. The views were spectacular - you could see all the way to the Cuillins of Skye, as well as to Rhum and Eigg (not sure of spelling!!). Highly recommend a visit, just check the weather first!
March 06, 2010
bhodrain from
United Kingdom
bhodrain from
United Kingdom
Re another reviewers submission.
I'm pleased you found conditions at Nevis Range good. I hear they are excellent in Glenshee and Cairngorm, but cannot comment personally.
If you read my review properly, you'd note my early comment that I'm 'a very experienced skier' and have skied extensively all over Europe and USA. I know a good piste when I see one, also a poor one - that is why my review is valid, objective and fair.
I simply report as I find. My review was not bad - it was, however, brutally honest and entirely factual - and I stand by every word.
I didn't go to Fort William for the apres-ski, but as I point out, if conditions are inadequate, surely 'the punters' deserve to know what else is available.
Enjoy the rest of the season.
February 26, 2010
Lorna from
United Kingdom
Lorna from
United Kingdom
Re the report written on 16th February 2010
Not sure what standard the skier/boarder is?! Nevis Range has had the best snow in years! The back bowls are full of epic powder and the front of the hill has also been amazing. The team up there have spent many hours day and night creating a good base for us punters to ski on. We have skied areas of the hill that have never had such good cover, it's a shame someone needs to give it such a bad review. Never mind, it keeps the queues down for the real skiers! Not to mention the best park in Scotland! I agree that the pubs don't have the European apres-ski appeal but get a grip.....it is Scotland and the best season in years!!
February 22, 2010
Stevie from
Ireland
Stevie from
Ireland
February 16, 2010
bhodrain from
United Kingdom
bhodrain from
United Kingdom
Regrettably, to my upset and financial cost - and perhaps out of some misguided loyalty to Scotland (being a Scot) - I felt that, for once, I should make a serious attempt to support the Scottish tourist industry by skiing in the Nevis Range.
Resort and piste information:
Firstly, I hold my hand up to having relied on the information on this site (snow-forecast.com).
As a subscriber of many years, and a very experienced skier who, until now, has found no fault with the information in respect of European resorts, naturally, I expected the degree of accuracy and regular updating of information and snow reports that I have come to expect for European resorts.
What is now clear is that the information supplied regarding the Nevis Range is entirely subjective, and that any information supplied regarding the quality of skiing and the piste standards, does not appear to be based on any defined, or identifiable standards.
In my humble opinion, and in fairness to Nevis, this is, perhaps, an issue that snow-forecast.com should address for the future. Perhaps a referenced set of criteria describing parameters for excellent / good / patchy / poor piste conditions might save much uncertainty and frustration.
For example, if normal conditions on Nevis are generally terrible then snow conditions that in Europe would warrant closure of the piste may, justifiably, be described as 'good' on the Nevis. I really am trying to be fair here.
Snow / lift reports and piste conditions:
That said, a piste that is seriously patchy with numerous visible gravel patches, tufts of grass, blue ice, ice sheets and is littered with yellow poles marking the rock outcrops is not, in my opinion, worthy of being described as 'good' - not by any stretch of the imagination. Furthermore, a fall of 3cm of wet snow does not, or should not, count as a 'significant improvement in those conditions'.
I noted that much effort went into joining up the patches of snow (described as pistes) with narrow strips of 'wet sugar' - a necessary exercise to enable transit from one area to the next. However, it only took one fallen boarder to block the narrow traverse between 'pistes' resulting in the inevitable tailback of some 40 to 50, already frustrated, skiers. I found this to be a regular occurrence, and hardly conducive to 'good' skiing.
So far as information on available, and operational, lifts is concerned:
Be warned. Lifts or tows recorded on other sites as 'intending to open' are reported on this site as 'open'. Understandably when, at 9am, 6 out of 11 lifts/tows are shown as open when, in fact, only two are (and are reported as such on those other sites), evidently, something is amiss with the reliability of information found here. May I, respectfully, suggest that both Nevis, and snow-forecast.com address this issue, please.
After an hour or delays, long queues for tows, frustration, feeling my way down the hazard that was the primary ski area (the red runs) and trying to preserve my (recently serviced) edges against the numerous devices and obstacles that might ruin them, I finally gave up and left the mountain. I was joined in the gondola by other, equally disillusioned, intermediate/advanced skiers who had also reached the conclusion that it was better to preserve their equipment, dignity and physical wellbeing.
To be fair to Nevis, as it was still before 12.00, I was given a partial refund on my day pass.
Transport to ski area from local town:
Fort William is several miles away from the ski area. Clearly, the best transport is your own vehicle. There appears to be little (if any) public transport to/from the town. I noted none, and there was a distinct lack of information regarding transport services.
Apres-ski:
For those who ski in Europe or the USA, you will be dissapointed. There is no apres-ski to speak of.
Fort William has a number of bars and restaurants, but none that can be described as typical (by European standard) 'apres ski' venues. We spent a lot of time searching out entertainment, and apart from one Karaoke session (down a dark alley) and another bar that had a live band on Saturday evening, there was little on offer. I suggest you take an ipod, reading materials, board games or computer games.
Alternatives:
If, like me, you leave the mountain dissapointed, may I suggest a (very picturesque) drive to Mallaig (which was shut when we arrived), however, a seal playing in the harbour provided some amusement. Oban (50 miles away) is livelier, but a lot of shops are closed on Sunday. You are well served with mountain walks - so take 'stout' footwear (and waterproofs).
Otherwise, I recommend the Skiwelt in Austria.
Nevis Range summary:
Caveat Emptor.
Bhodrain (UK)
[note from the editor: www.snow-forecast.com shall endeavour to address the relative issue mentioned in this review]
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