Glenshee Ski Centre
Encyclopedia
Glenshee Ski Centre is the largest ski resort
in Scotland
and is sometimes referred to as the Scottish three valleys. It is located in Aberdeenshire
and to the north of Spittal of Glenshee
, on the A93 road
between Blairgowrie
and Braemar
in the southern Highlands of Scotland
. With 21 lifts, 36 runs and limited snowmaking capabilities it is the UK's largest snowsports resort.
The ski area is just north of the Cairnwell Pass
at the head of Glen Shee
on either side of the A93 road
. The western sector is a bowl encompassing The Cairnwell
(933 m) and Càrn Aosda
(917 m) mountains. The eastern side extends via Sunnyside onto two further mountains, Meall Odhar
(922 m) and Glas Maol
(1068 m). Most of the area is served by a panoramic webcam. The main ski centre buildings are at an elevation of 650 metres.
The resort covers 790 hectares and has 40 km of pisted runs graded as 8 Greens, 13 Blues, 13 Reds and 2 Blacks. There are two chairlifts, three T-bar lifts, and the remaining sixteen are button lifts, mostly of the Poma
type. Planning permission was granted in June 2010 for a chairlift from the ski centre carpark area to the Cairnwell Cafe.
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and is sometimes referred to as the Scottish three valleys. It is located in Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
and to the north of Spittal of Glenshee
Spittal of Glenshee
left|thumb|Standing stone at Spittal of GlensheeThe Spittal of Glenshee lies at the head of Glenshee in the highlands of eastern Perth and Kinross, Scotland where the confluence of many small streams flowing south out of the Grampians form the Shee Water...
, on the A93 road
A93 road
The A93 is a major road in Scotland and the highest public road in the United Kingdom. It runs north from Perth through Blairgowrie and Rattray, then through the Grampian Mountains by way of Glenshee, the Cairnwell Pass and Glen Clunie to Braemar in Aberdeenshire...
between Blairgowrie
Blairgowrie and Rattray
Blairgowrie and Rattray and Raitear is possibly from an English language cognate of Gaelic ràth, meaning fortress + a Pictish term cognate with Welsh tref, meaning settlement) is a twin burgh in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. Amongst locals, the town is colloquially known simply as "Blair"...
and Braemar
Braemar
Braemar is a village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, around west of Aberdeen in the Highlands. It is the closest significantly-sized settlement to the upper course of the River Dee sitting at an altitude of ....
in the southern Highlands of Scotland
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
. With 21 lifts, 36 runs and limited snowmaking capabilities it is the UK's largest snowsports resort.
The ski area is just north of the Cairnwell Pass
Cairnwell Pass
The Cairnwell Pass is a mountain pass on the A93 road between Glen Shee, Perthshire, and Braemar, Aberdeenshire, in the Scottish Highlands. The border between the two counties crosses the summit of the pass...
at the head of Glen Shee
Glen Shee
Glen Shee is a glen in eastern Perth and Kinross, Scotland through which flows the Shee Water. The Spittal of Glenshee where Glen Beag and Glen Lochy meet marks the head of the glen in the north and it then runs south-east to Bridge of Cally where it merges with Strathardle to form Glen Ericht...
on either side of the A93 road
A93 road
The A93 is a major road in Scotland and the highest public road in the United Kingdom. It runs north from Perth through Blairgowrie and Rattray, then through the Grampian Mountains by way of Glenshee, the Cairnwell Pass and Glen Clunie to Braemar in Aberdeenshire...
. The western sector is a bowl encompassing The Cairnwell
The Cairnwell
The Cairnwell is a mountain in the Eastern Highlands of Scotland, south of Braemar. It is often considered to be one of the most spoiled of the Munros, due to the Glenshee Ski Centre which covers the eastern slope of the mountain....
(933 m) and Càrn Aosda
Càrn Aosda
Càrn Aosda is a Scottish mountain situated 12.5 km south of the town of Braemar, in the county of Aberdeenshire. It stands near the summit of the Cairnwell Pass on the A93 road, in the midst of the Glenshee Ski Centre.- Overview :...
(917 m) mountains. The eastern side extends via Sunnyside onto two further mountains, Meall Odhar
Meall Odhar
Meall Odhar is a mountain in the Scottish Highlands, situated about 3 km to the west of Tyndrum, close to the northern boundary of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Meall Odhar is part of the Tyndrum Hills. With a height of 656 m, and a drop of 183 m, it is listed as a Marilyn and a...
(922 m) and Glas Maol
Glas Maol
Glas Maol is the highest point in the Mounth hills, in the southeastern part of the Highlands of Scotland. The broad, flat summit is divided between the council area of Aberdeenshire, Angus and Perth and Kinross, though the highest point lies wholly within Angus; indeed Glas Maol is the highest...
(1068 m). Most of the area is served by a panoramic webcam. The main ski centre buildings are at an elevation of 650 metres.
The resort covers 790 hectares and has 40 km of pisted runs graded as 8 Greens, 13 Blues, 13 Reds and 2 Blacks. There are two chairlifts, three T-bar lifts, and the remaining sixteen are button lifts, mostly of the Poma
Poma
Poma, also known as Pomagalski S.A. is a French company, specialising in construction of cable-driven lift systems, including fixed and detachable chairlifts, gondola lifts, funiculars, aerial tramways, people movers, and surface lifts. Poma has installed more than 7800 devices on five continents,...
type. Planning permission was granted in June 2010 for a chairlift from the ski centre carpark area to the Cairnwell Cafe.