Nevis Range in Scotland
Resort Guide
Since opening in 1989 the reputation enjoyed by Nevis Range has grown by the season. As the newest centre with major financial investments behind it, it has had to try harder to attract skiers and boarders. It has a lot going for it. On a clear day the scenery is a match for the Alps or the Rockies. From the steep pitch of the Nid Wall you can see for miles up the silvery lochs of the Great Glen and down Loch Linnhe. Set on Britain's eighth highest peak Aonach Mor, the ski area looks across to Ben Nevis. With 35 runs off 11 lifts there is potentially some good skiing for all abilities when the whole area is up and running. Although there are some good beginner areas, including a short plastic dry slope, the majority of the terrain is well suited to intermediate skiers and boarders. Nevis Range staff are enthusiastic skiers and they have lead the way in Scotland in pursuing new levels of customer service, and the resort personnel are generally smiling, friendly and strive to help. Advanced skiers and boarders have some of the most exciting skiing and riding in Scotland in the back coires which drop off the back of the summit runs. Some of the runs over here hold snow well into May. The nearest accommodation is just at the foot of the main access road, at Torlundy. Otherwise the nearest town is Fort William which is seven miles down the road. Fort William is a year round tourist gateway to the West Highlands. A regular stopping point for summer coach tours much of the local area is more attuned to quick fix tourism than an alpine resort environment. Still, Fort William may lack character and has an uninspiring pedestrianised main street, but it is improving and there are some reasonable pubs, restaurants and coffee shops.
Accomodation & Après Ski
The choice of accommodation covers the widest spectrum - from hostels and self catering lodges and cottages to the renowned Inverlochy Castle Hotel. There is no shortage of moderately priced hotel and guest house beds in the town of Fort William. The Milton Hotel has a leisure club and is handy for the road to the slopes. Otherwise there are caravans, self catering chalets and cottages and bed and breakfasts aplenty. At Torlundy there are a collection of lovely self catering apartments and a guest house which regularly gains good reviews. A few miles further north the village of Spean Bridge has more accommodation and is a fairly typical small highland village with a couple of hotels and more self catering lodges nearby. The Old Pines here has won many awards for their food and offers comfortable, well appointed rooms. Also by Spean Bridge, overlooking Loch Lochy the Corriegour Lodge Hotel has lovely rooms and their Lochview Conservatory bar and restaurant specialises in quality Aberdeen Angue meats, local seafood and fish, home baking and puddings. Crannog is a reported to be a good sea-food and fish restaurant on the loch front in Fort William. Otherwise the Nevisport restaurant above the Nevisport shop serves good, basic food and is a good haunt when the day's skiing has been blown off. The Nevisport Bar is popular with skiers and boarders.
Resort Statistics
- Resort Height : 640
- Top Station : 1220
- Bottom Station : 640
- Vertical Descent : 580
- Drag Lifts : 8
- Chair Lifts : 3
- Opens : Dec - April
- Expert Rating : 7
- Intermediate Rating : 7
- Beginner Rating : 7