Brass monkeys and half pipes

Ski Scotland

There's no better way of staving off a chill in the air than getting physical, and no better place than Scotland in which to do it. With five main ski areas to choose from, each with its own very distinct character, you're sure to find one that suits you.

Cairngorm – Probably the best known of Scotland's ski resorts and the only one with a funicular railway, which offers spectacular panoramic views of the mountain range. The north facing corries and slopes of Cairngorm mountain enjoy one of the best snow-holding records in Scotland, besides which there are all the nearby attractions of Aviemore. Visitors during late January can look forward to the Aviemore Dog Sled Rally – the biggest and most gruelling event of its kind in Europe with over 200 teams of Siberian Huskies, Malamutes, Greenlands and cross-breeds taking part.

Glencoe – The home of Scottish skiing, Glencoe was Scotland's first commercial ski area and is still a firm favourite with many skiers and boarders, thanks to its exhilarating terrain and friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Although only open at weekends just now, highlights include Scotland's longest vertical descent and steepest on-piste run.

Glenshee – With 38 runs spread over three valleys and four mountains, Glenshee offers the most extensive skiing and boarding experience in the UK. Whatever your standard, you're catered for. Fancy swapping your ski sticks for clubs, then head for the nearby Glenisla Golf Centre – voted one of Scotland's favourite courses in Insider Business Magazine. Back in Glenshee, you can catch the annual Braemar Telemark Festival every March.

The Lecht – Scotland's fun snow area has something for everyone: expert tuition for adults and children alike; a Snowboard funpark and the Lecht 2090, a timed raceway for pros. For everyone else, there's snowtubing, devil karting and quad bikes with plenty more to come. Right now, the Centre is investing over £1 million in facilities for year-round visitors.

The Nevis Range – Scotland's newest ski resort and arguably its most imposing with Ben Nevis providing the stunning backdrop. The Nevis Range offers the highest skiing and boarding in Scotland. The off-piste terrain is comparable with many of the great European resorts, whilst the gentle summit runs often have snow lasting well into May.

Differences aside, what the ranges all share in common is expert tuition (if required) and a host of local facilities. For all the latest conditions, try the following sites:

www.winternet-scotland.co.uk
An independent site with winter reports, weather, snow condition reports and web cams.

www.sais.gov.uk
Avalanche information, advice and reports for key areas in the Scottish highlands.

www.winterhighland.com
Reports and information on a range of winter activities including winter walking and mountaineering.

http://ski.visitscotland.com
Up-to-date weather conditions, piste maps and information on Scotland's five superb ski areas.

The Chain-Gang

Prefer your mountains with bikes on, then you're in luck. Scotland is fast becoming a mountain biker's paradise, with large tracts of its wide-open spaces being developed into truly world-class trails. Head for the Glentress Forest Trail near Peebles, considered by one biking journalist to be "the best dedicated mountain bike centre in Britain", or the Red Bull Project Downhill at Innerleithen, which hosted the Scottish Downhill Mountain Bike Championships. For Britain's biggest downhill and the only national and international race location, try the lower slopes of Aonach Mor in the Nevis Range. Rated one of Britain's top 10 bike venues by MBR magazine, the Nevis Range offers some of Britain's best cycling for all abilities, ranging from international standard race routes through to gentle family trails.

Fresh challenges

With the advent of two brand new state-of-the-art activity centres, it's now possible to enjoy all the thrills and spills of the great outdoors indoors. Just 10 minutes drive from Glencoe and half an hour from Fort William, The Ice Factor is Britain's premier indoor mountaineering centre. The biggest indoor ice climbing facility in the world, it also features the UK's largest articulated rock climbing wall and a competition-standard bouldering hall, making it the perfect place to practise, train and learn every conceivable mountaineering skill. After which you can relax in the sauna, steam room, plunge pool or hot tub.

Further south, a brand new £24 million adventure sports facility has been built at Ratho, between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Located in a spectacular quarry setting, The Adventure Centre boasts an impressive range of world-class facilities, including: the world's largest indoor climbing arena; a 122 metre-long SkyRide; state-of-the-art adventure sports gym; national judo academy; scuba diving school and Urban Sports Park complete with BMX and mountain bike trails and dual slalom.

Serious contenders

It's not all about enjoyment, of course. Some Scots, like Olympic snowboarder Lesley McKenna and Rhona Martin who skippered her curling team to victory in the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games, take their winter sports very seriously. The first British Winter Games gold medallists since Torvill and Dean back in 1984 and the first Scots to win gold at the Winter Olympics since 1936, Rhona's team's success was followed up later the same year by Jackie Lockhart's rink becoming the first Scottish Ladies to win the World Championships. Together, they have sparked a revival in the sport that originated in Scotland nearly 500 years ago.

Charging right back to the present day, scientists at The University of Glasgow are helping the British Speed Ski team to get ahead using wind tunnel training. They advised the skiers to wear silk long johns on a previous visit to the University, which it has been shown can shave two-tenths of a second off a typical downhill course. Can't see it helping with the brass monkeys though!