Nevis Range

Nevis Range Ski Resort

Scotland’s newest resort, Nevis Range, is home to some spectacular scenery and on its day, the country’s best lift-served freeride terrain.

Reaching a lofty 1190m, Nevis Range is Scotland’s highest resort and is home to 20km of north facing slopes, located right next to Ben Nevis, the UK’s tallest mountain. It affords stunning views over the Western Highlands, numerous lochs and on clear days right across to the Cuillin on the Isle of Skye. But the real jewel in the crown is the Back Corries, Scotland’s best in-bounds freeride terrain – where you can ski some seriously steep lines that rival anything the Alps have to offer when conditions are good.

The ski hill is located at the top of the UK’s only mountain gondola and is a 10 minute drive or bus ride away from the base town of Fort William. As winter is low season there is lots of great value accommodation in town, as well as some good food options and some great equipment shops, whilst the loch-side scenery is hard to beat.

As with all Scottish resorts, conditions can at times be unreliable but on a good day, the freeriding here can rival the world’s best – and you’d certainly be hard pushed to find more spectacular scenery. For this reason stay as flexible as possible and be prepared to drop everything and dash to the mountains when conditions are good!

Our Nevis Range Resort Ratings

• Beginner ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
• Intermediate ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
• Advanced ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
• Lift System ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
• Snowmaking ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
• Off Snow Activities ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
• Accessibility ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Nevis Range Skiing and Snowboarding

All of the pistes are located on the north-facing slopes of Aonach Mor, dropping from the summit at 1190m to the gondola top station at 650m. Immediately outside the top station are some sheltered beginner slopes, bolstered in bad snow years by an artificial slope. Above this lie a network of blues and reds, served by Scotland’s only quad chairlift and two t-bars, whilst the Summit Button accesses snowsure, gentle blues. From this, one long cornice accesses the east-facing Back Corries and Scotland’s best off piste.

• Total Pistes: 20km
• Green: 10%
• Blue: 25%
• Red: 50%
• Black: 15%
• Itineraries: 7 marked inbound routes
• Lifts: 12
• Altitude: 650m – 1190m

Early starters will find a decent beginner area right outside the gondola top station, served by the Linnhe and Lochy button lifts and a rope tow for first timers. Its location is ideal for when the weather is bad – it’s a very quick walk to get back inside to the warmth of the Snowgoose Restaurant. Progression on to the longer greens of Rob Roy is good when the Great Glen Chair is open and the longer blues under the quad should be within reach after a few days.

Intermediates will really enjoy the blues served by the quad chair and also those running alongside the Alpha button. The Summit runs are also ideal and are often home to some great snow, just make sure you are confident tackling sharper gradients as parts of the Goose and Sidewinder on the way back down are noticeably steeper. Very confident intermediates should be able to tackle the blacks off the Warren’s T-bar, especially if they have been freshly pisted.

Although the Warren’s zone can provide some on-piste challenges, Nevis Range comes into its own if you’re looking for off piste. The Back Corries are one vast playground and nowhere else in Scotland is the backcountry so accessible. Chancer, Yellow Bellow and Winger Wall are the main routes down and these often require a cornice drop at the start, but once in, the slopes are often loaded with powder, right down to the base of the Braveheart Chair. If you’re feeling adventurous and are kitted out appropriately, a short walk across the Summit to Spikes and Summit Gully is well worth it for a huge vertical and quite often, completely fresh tracks.

Nevis Range Piste Map

The local area map can be downloaded here.

Nevis Range Ski Pass Prices

Nevis Range has frozen prices for the third season in a row, ensuring it offers great value for money. Unlike at some other Scottish resorts there are discounts available for multi-day passes and early bird season pass prices apply. A Scotland-wide season pass costs £550 and can be purchased via the Snowsport Scotland website. Note that these prices may change, so check with the resort’s website for the latest or give the Ski Club’s expert info & advice team a call on 020 8410 2009.

Season Dates

• Opening: approx. mid-late December
• Closing: approx. early April

Unlike some of the other Scottish resorts equipped with snowmaking, Nevis Range opens as the natural snow falls and closes as it melts – which can be later here due to the higher altitude. The dates listed above are only indicative so for full details see the resort's website. The Ski Club’s expert info & advice team are also on hand to help – call 020 8410 2009.

Nevis Range Resort

On the hill, the Snowgoose Restaurant serves as the ski area’s hub, as well as being home to the only restaurant on the hill. There is also ski hire and a café at the foot of the gondola, but all accommodation and other facilities are located 10 minutes down the road in Fort William.

Fort William is home to numerous B&Bs and hotels, mostly there to cater for the hoards of summer visitors visiting to climb Ben Nevis or to use Nevis Range’s world-class mountain bike facilities. This means that winter is also low season, so you can get some great deals on rooms. In town there is a good choice of restaurants, pubs and also for a small town, some great outdoors shops – selling the latest ski and climbing gear.

For Families

Nevis Range is perhaps a little less family friendly than some of the other ski areas when it comes to on the hill facilities – the beginner zone is not as good here as at for example, Lecht. However, the convenience of its location near Fort William makes it a good option. In town there is a good leisure centre with a swimming pool and even a bowling alley – ideal for down days when the weather has closed in.

For Après

The Snowgoose Restaurant is a good spot for a post-skiing drink and has a good selection of local beers and whiskeys. Down in town, the bar at the Alexandra Hotel is cosy whilst the Grog & Gruel is a traditional pub serving good food. Other eating options include several other pubs, a handful of independent cafés as well as British take away favourites including fish & chips and curry.

How to get to Nevis Range

Nevis Range is around two and a half hours away by car from Glasgow and a touch further at three hours from Edinburgh. Four trains a day leave Glasgow for Fort William and the journey takes a little under four hours.

• Glasgow: 2.5 hours (driving) or 4 hours (by train)
• Edinburgh: 3 hours

Nevis Range Contact Details

• Website: www.nevisrange.co.uk
• Email: info@nevisrange.co.uk
• Telephone: 01397 705 825
• Facebook: @NevisRange
• Twitter: @TheNevisRange
• Instagram: @nevisrange