Glencoe Mountain set to save lives with its avalanche transceiver park

Nine permanently buried transceivers around the area will be linked to a new Glencoe Mountain control centre. When climbers fall, or skiers are buried if they can switch on their transceiver then Glencoe mountain can direct the rescue services to the precise spot. 

When a skier, snow-boarder or hill walker falls or is buried in the snow, the big problem is finding them immediately. When Glencoe Mountain picks up their distress call the problem will be solved.

However, last year, a woman in the Alps and her husband were caught in an avalanche. She was saved by the device, but he could not switch his on, and was lost.

A bit of training in their use is needed first, and we don't know the cost. They probably need to be rented, which will be too much effort for everyday holidaymakers.

Mind you there will be no saving the nerds who go up the mountain in sandals, starting at luncthime, with no safety gear, no spare food or spare clothing, no message left about where they are going. The idea of taking their mobile with them will be the most advanced they consider. Yeah, right.

John

New page in our site about driving on snow and ice

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Huge amount of snow in Glencoe. It is wonderful

Here is the report I've just received from Andy Meldrum at the Glencoe Mountain Ski resort. What a time for a new business to take over a ski range, huh? (We've still for a weekend break available in the cottage from next Friday, and a week available from the following Friday after that, the 12th. See the previous blog for details)

John
---------------------

It's been snowing!!! (says Andy)
If you've not already heard it's been snowing at Glencoe over the last 48hrs........
.......not just a few inches but feet at the bottom of the hill and metres at the top.
Unfortunately we don't have any pictures as everyone has been too busy digging.

The report from the hill tonight is:-

Lots and lots of fresh snow. Not only have the team spent the day digging out lifts, they intend working through the night to ensure that all runs and tow tracks are in the best shape possible for tomorrow. All runs are expected to open with the exception of the flypaper (big avalanche risk). It is possible to ski to the carpark on deep soft snow.

It looks like being an awesome weekends skiing with moderate NE winds and an 80% chance of cloud free munros according to the mountain weather information service.

I look forward to seeing you on the hill.
Andy

--------------
RANNOCH MOOR ROAD, was closed but it should open quite quickly.

If you get stuck before crossing the Moor, then continue in the Oban direction until you get to Connel. Turn North there over the Etive bridge, and go up the Appin coast, the scenery will take your breath away, go past our cottage and then you'll get to Ballachulish, Glencoe asnd Fort William. The Rannoch road is rarely closed but it has been to-day, and they clear it quickly.

The road in front of our cottage rarely gets very deep in snow. Being right on the coast helps, we have a little micro climate there. More sunshine, a bit less rain, than in the Glen.

AVALANCHE ON THE BUCHAILLE.

It is always so tragic that in the midst of all this splendour and beauty the real rish of extreme danger still lurks. New snow on top of old does the damage. It is an objective danger and there is little you can do about it apart from being very wary in the obviously dangerous gullies and steep hillsides. Terribly sad. We've had a lot this year in Scotland.

John
The Glencoe skiing new web site, looks lovely

Skiing Glencoe and Nevis range, cottage is midway between the two
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage
Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe
Winter breaks in the cottage
Weather in the mountains of Glencoe
The Viking battle in Glencoe
The true story of the Glencoe massacre
Weather month by month in the area

LOCAL GLENCOE SITES.
The Clachaig Inn
The Glencoe and Loch Leven Association with 40 B&Bs
Email 14 properties with one click
The Friends of Glencoe network site

Skiing and walking, Glencoe and Nevis Range. Half price cottage

WE WILL HALVE THE PRICE OF THE SHORT BREAKS IN OUR COTTAGE FOR THE REST OF JANUARY. SEE FINAL PARAGRAPH. YOU NEED TO EMAIL US email to kentalleninfo@yahoo.co.uk and put "Half Price Offer" in your subject. Cottage skeeps 2-4 people, fully modernised. Less than £100 for a weekend break!

Skiing in Scotland, at Glencoe and Nevis Range, Fort William - off to a brilliant start, the best start to a season ever. Glencoe is now open under new owners, Nevis Range is going full pelt.
Dry and bright, some cloud at the summit.

Nevis Range, Ben Nevis skiing forecast.
Look at this exract from the forecast to-day.
Current weather : CURRENT WEATHER Dry with good viz, cloudy above 900m. Wind/Temp @ 650m: SE 0-10mph, -1C

Weather Forecast : FORECAST. Early light snowthen dry and mainly bright day Wind/Temp@ 900m: SE 10-15mph, -7C

Nevis Range Runs : RUNS Light cover of fresh snow on a firm base. All runs groomed last night Good skiing and boarding at all levels. Some icy patches and natural hazards.
The upper runs are complete with good cover and great skiing and boarding.
Middle runs best snow cover on the west of the fences giving good sliding.
Lower slopes have improved with the recent snowfall and drifting, and are complete to the top station. Good areas for beginners and lower abilities on on Alpha and Linnhe.
Back Corrie should be treated as back country skiing and is not patrolled.
There's sledging areas available around the top station - but we're sorry that there's no sledges left in the shop.


Short cottage breaks for Glencoe skiing and walking, Nevis Range skiing and walking
Isn't this just what you want for a weekend break - three days good skiing, meals out in the evening, and a pretty cottage beside the loch to stay in.

Weekend breaks start on Fridays, and finish Mondays, we have Jan 22 and Jan 29 available.

We also have available a Monday to Friday break, January 18th.

Cheapest low season prices for weekend cottage breaks, Scotland. The following prices are halved for the breaks starting in January.
All these breaks are just £199 for four people. That is about £17 per person per night. A big reduction on what you'd pay even in a B&B. And you are free to come and go as you please.

John
Skiing Glencoe and Nevis range, cottage is midway between the two
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage
Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe
Winter breaks in the cottage
Weather in the mountains of Glencoe
The Viking battle in Glencoe
The true story of the Glencoe massacre
Weather month by month in the area

Skiing in Glencoe saved for this Winter

I hope the new owner of the Glencoe Ski Centre does not mind my pinching his ski map to illustrate this great news. Andy Meldrum, who already owns the activity centre at the Spitall of Glenshee has bought it and plans to extend it into a major all year round attraction.


That's the best news Glencoe has had since coming 4th in the competition to name the Wonders of Scotland. (Ahead of Glencoe I seem to recall were Malt Whisky and Edinburgh Castle.)

These are the plans:
Snowmaking machines may be built
Improved facilities for snowboarding and skiing
All round the year attractions to be built in
Mountain bike trail to be added
Adventure playpark to be added
Dry ski area to be built
Archery range to be added - is this a first for a Skiing Centre?

Maintenance has already started, so there is momentum there. Apparently the Cafe is to open soon.

All that is very good news indeed.

John



ps If you are looking for holiday accommodation over Christmas and the New Year, then we have availability for the first but Hogmanay is booked, sorry. Otherwise, the first website in this list has two special Christmas and New Year pages.
I'll try and find out who still has accommodation in Glencoe available and will publish it.
Short holiday breaks, special last minute deals, self catering Scotland
Special self catering offers in Scotland
Helpful guide for holiday home owners with their web sites
The best way of finding your ideal Scottish holiday cottage on the internet
The mystery of king robert the bruce and ardchattan priory
The knights templar in argyll
The battle of Bannockburn
The Viking battle in Glencoe
The true story of the Glencoe massacre

Buy your own ski slopes in Glencoe

I ski like a haggis.

In my book salopets are nice tame little animals which need no feeding or cleaning and love you for ever.

Gondolas are for lazing in, attached to Italians, punting.

Buying the Glencoe skiing slopes is as far removed from my imagination as cycling fish. It is Scotland's oldest ski resort.

But someone will do it, you can bet. The slopes were in administration last year, brought back to life and are now being offered for sale.

According to Ski forums;
"I believe they've costed a gondola system as well as other improvements and also have plans for on-site accommodation and other facilities"

"it's an awesome place ... but then do we really want the general population to know about it and crowd the slopes ... not sure"

"It has some steep runs and great scenery. "

Here is the link to the details; http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1125170?UserKey=


Even late in the year, now, there is snow for skiing on the tops. Here is the Nevis Range ski report for to-day:

Date: 06-04-2009 at 08:32
Current weather : CURRENT WEATHER Dry & clear with good visibility. Wind/temp top station: SW 10-20mph, 4CWeather Forecast : FORECAST FOR MONDAYDry, bright morning. Rain or snow above 750m. Wind/temp at 900m: SE 15-20mph > 30-35mph, 3C < 1CSnow level : 800Vertical runs : 400Runs : Weather looks settled until mid afternoon. Fresh soft wind blown snow on summit, upper Goose and Warrens runs. Goose from tower 4 up is complete.Access/downloading on Goose chair. Dry slope for beginners & lower abilities. Back Corrie off-piste and unpatrolled; the walk out is about 25 minutesTerrain Park - features for all levels of ability.

John
ps Someone just said that you can eat haggis. That must be where I'm going wrong.

Skiing in Glencoe and Nevis Range
Our lochside cottage near Glencoe
Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage
Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe
Weather in the mountains of Glencoe
Weather month by month in the area
Skiing in Glencoe
New website to help find holiday accommodation in the West Coast, Oban and Fort William areas
Tourist and visitor information, this is the biggest Glencoe information site, hotel and cottage accommodation
Events in Glencoe Appin Lochaber Oban and Ballachulish
Last minute, short breaks, in Scotland, owners sites direct
Find the best Scottish holiday cottages on the internet
Cut the costs of your holidays
Cheap travel in scotland
Scotlands weather misconceptions
Rain in scotland
Summer weather in Scotland
Autumn weather in Scotland
Winter weather in Scotland
Spring weather in Scotland
Facts about self catering holidays
Advice on driving in Scotland
The Demand A82 upgrade campaign site

Amazing weather in Glencoe - right now

Picture shows the Pap of Glencoe from the Kentallen road. Isn't the whole place stunning?

Here is the most amazing thing. Right now, the UK news bulletins are full of horror stories involving cold weather, deep snow in the East of Scotland, cars benighted, emergency services at full stretch, and worse to come. The worst snowfalls in the UK for 20 years they say!

What have we got in our little micro climate at Kentallen? Well, nothing but peace and calm. And we have quite high temperatures.

I've just looked up the weather station report from Mark our neighbour. This is what it says:

Dry, wind wnw force 1, no gusts humidity 55% (quite low). Temperature 6.9C no windchill at Kentallen cottage on 2/2/09 at 20.55.

It is very very much warmer here on the Scottish West Coast than on the East. It is the Gulf Stream and all that which does it.

Here at Kentallen, we have a different climate from Glencoe itself, because Glencoe, although it is just around the corner, is just over the hill. A 3,000 foot hill. And our climate in Kentallen is different again from that on Rannoch Moor. Now the Rannoch plain is one where you definitely do not want to be stuck overnight. Not unless you have a duvet sleeping bag, plenty of spare clothes, and a hot thermos. They'll get you out ok, but you want to be warm and still breathing when they do.

But here at Kentallen, all is peaceful bliss. Snow on the hills of course, brilliant skiing both at the Glencoe centre and at Nevis range. Brilliant high level walks.

By the way our cottage this month costs only £290 for the week. That is half the standard price

John
ps We can sometimes, very occasionally, get horizontal rain driven with the force of an AK47. Oh, very occasionally, of course. "A wee bit damp" they say.
pps. Here is a link to a page which gives you all the weather information, month by month for the region. Weather month by month in the area

Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Skiing in Glencoe
New website to help find holiday accommodation in the West Coast, Oban and Fort William areas
Tourist and visitor information, this is the biggest Glencoe information site, hotel and cottage accommodation
Events in Glencoe Appin Lochaber Oban and Ballachulish
Last minute, short breaks, in Scotland, owners sites direct
Find the best Scottish holiday cottages on the internet
Cut the costs of your holidays
Cheap travel in scotland
Scotlands weather misconceptions
Rain in scotland
Summer weather in Scotland
Autumn weather in Scotland
Winter weather in Scotland
Spring weather in Scotland
Facts about self catering holidays
Advice on driving in Scotland
The Demand A82 upgrade campaign site

February Ski Report Ben Nevis area, Nevis range

Another ski report, if you are thinking of flying high. These two months, February and March are the best for skiing in Glencoe or the Nevis range.

If you read it you'll see how you can learn to ski for less than half the usual price, with plenty of other offers.


SKI REPORT
Nevis Range
Date: 01-02-2009 at 08:06
Current weather : CURRENT WEATHER Dry & Clear, windy. Wind & temp top station: SE 15-45mph, -1C Weather Forecast : FORECAST FOR SUNDAYDry day with some clouds and bright spells. Wind & temp at 900m: SE 30-40mph, -2 < -4CSnow level : 300Vertical runs : 550Runs : RUNS Set up firm overnight, grooming is coming up well. Wind speeds are still high. Lower lifts only to start with - will review as day goes on to try and open more lifts. Despite the recent thaw, most main runs are complete with good cover. Lower area has most runs complete with groomed snow but there are some bare patches.
Gondola expected to open Trainer Rope Tow expected to open Great Glen Chair closed Snowgoose Chair expected to open Summit Button expected to open Braveheart Chair closed
Linnhe/Lochy Button expected to open Alpha Button expected to open Rob Roy T-bar closed Goose T-bar expected to open Warren's T-bar expected to open
Additional Comments: : If you have never, ever skied or boarded before LEARN NOW for £100, less than 1/2 price! Includes 'any 5 days in the season' lift pass, 3 lessons + equipment hire on tuesdays and thursdays in January or February. Phone 01397 705825 for details.CLIMBERS GONDOLA 8am sharp. GONDOLA open 9-4.30.Access roads : ROADS Clear


John
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Weather in the mountains of Glencoe
Weather month by month in the area
Skiing in Glencoe
New website to help find holiday accommodation in the West Coast, Oban and Fort William areas
Tourist and visitor information, this is the biggest Glencoe information site, hotel and cottage accommodation
Events in Glencoe Appin Lochaber Oban and Ballachulish
Last minute, short breaks, in Scotland, owners sites direct
Find the best Scottish holiday cottages on the internet
Cut the costs of your holidays
Cheap travel in scotland
Scotlands weather misconceptions
Rain in scotland
Summer weather in Scotland
Autumn weather in Scotland
Winter weather in Scotland
Spring weather in Scotland
Facts about self catering holidays
Advice on driving in Scotland
The Demand A82 upgrade campaign site