Since winter made an appearance in Scotland this week (before quickly vanishing for a return to late summer temps!), I thought about sharing a visit to the Cairngorm Mountain and Ski Resort up in the Highlands in one of our national parks.
Just 2 1/2 hours from the center of Edinburgh by car, it is also easy access via train from Edinburgh Waverley right up to Aviemore
When you arrive at the Cairngorm Mountain, you are in this carpark here, which just at the bottom of the hill was clear roads without any snow in sight!
As can be seen here, the change can be seen between snowy and not.
So how does one get up to the top of the mountain?
Well in the image, there is a track visible where a funicular railway has been installed
The tunnel marks the halfway point as both trains pass each other.
And one last view from the carpark before going up
The one thing I still can't get my mind around even today is that this is Scotland, a generally mild country that favours on the side of damp. and yet, it feels like another country completely while up on the mountain complex!
and we have a view from the top, although rather than skiing this is from the balcony from the lodge area, so nice and cosy 馃榿
Now more than skiing was taking place on the mountain top, as couples were indulging in a bit of sledging as well!
And that was a little tour of the Cairngorm Mountain, we have other areas such as Glenshee and Glencoe which both offer some spectacular views too, but Cairngorm is by far the most accessible for the non-skiing visitor with their mountain top lodge and railway.