DRIVING ON SNOW AND ICE

From our website. Amazingly, Glencoe 4 miles away gets loads of snow yet our little hamlet of Kentallen gets hardly any. The reason is that the mountains lie behind us to the East. We are beside the sea loch, with its remnants of the Gulf stream. The rain clouds hit the mountains, are driven upwards of 3,000 feet and dump the snow. If you can't drive across the land in Scotland, then go down the coastal roads. You'll be fine.

For novices on snow and ice driving, here are our tips

Five Don'ts

Don't overtake on snow and ice

Don't rev the engine or accelerate quickly

Don't allow the battery to run down. It is very vulnerable  in the cold.

Don't use washing up liquid in the screen wash

Don't run on thin tyres

Twelve Do's

Drive very slowly, particularly around corners

Avoid steep hills, particularly those with bends

Go into corners slowly

Accelerate very slowly

Use 2nd gear if possible on ice

Keep the driving wheel as straight as possible

Leave a massive amount of room between you and the car in front

Fill the petrol tank more frequently than usual

Keep your mobile phone topped up

Use WD 40 to ease the door locks

There are  extra cold temperatures in low lying valleys, and on  tree lined roads

Choose a coastal route if possible rather than an inland route.

Take 11 things with you

Old bits of clothes or cardboard for getting the car out of snow

Wellington boots - carried inside the car

Shovel, to dig out the car

Emergency first aid kit

Spare clothes

Scarf

Hat covering the ears

Gloves

Chocolate and something to eat

Flask of hot drink

Charged mobile phone

St. Christophers charm, you never know

 John

WEATHER WEST COAST
Weather Misconceptions Glencoe Oban Fort William and West Coast
January February Weather Glencoe Oban Fort William and West Coast
March April Weather Glencoe Oban Fort William and West Coast
May June Weather Glencoe Oban Fort William and West Coast
Jul August Weather Glencoe Oban Fort William and West Coast
September October Weather Glencoe Oban Fort William and West Coast
November December Weather Glencoe Oban Fort William and West Coast
Wind in the mountains and West Coast
What to do about Rain in Scotland
PHOTOGRAPHERS GLENCOE
Glencoe is the photographers paradise
Photographic locations Glencoe
Winter Photography Glencoe

It looks very good for Glencoe Mountain resort. £200 off our cottage for skiers.

Isn't this a lovely pic from Flickr?  Glencoe mountain photos on Flickr

We are very lucky in Glencoe in having this brilliant and energetic revival of the Skiing area on our doorstep. It has opened up the winter holiday period for everyone. That's why we are offering £200 off our low season rates for anyone who wants to take our cottage for a week. The cottage sleeps up to 4 and has a drying room and ski store. For details Email us

With heavy snow falling all over the country the Glencoe ski resort looks like it is on track to have it’s earliest ever opening.  For details about the opening date you can go to  the Glencoe ski resort

There is now a brand new beginner's area with a dedicated tow just for the snow sports school. that will make life easier for the learners.

A new terrain park is being created. This will have features for advanced riders and also a new beginner’s area making the park accessible to all levels of skier and snowboarder. The snow sports school will offer freestyle lessons every day.

Hiring gear is not a problem, you can hire skis or a snowboards, most of them brand new. Trespass ski suits also available.

Glencoe offers some of the best off piste opportunities in Scotland, and is famous for having Scotland's steepest black run. The beginners area is kindly as well.

It is all looking really good - I'm amazed at the energy of the management team. It is a lesson to us all in how to get a business going.
John
This is the page about skiing in our website
Skiing in Glencoe is excellent again

Masses of information about the area in our Site map
This is about Fort William
Appin is beautiful
Bed and breakfast and hotels from Oban to Fort William
Walks around our cottage
Autumn short breaks in Glencoe
Ben Nevis walking is a slog, but worth it
Cottage holidays Scotland in the Autumn, Winter, Spring
The highlands of Scotland
Find holiday cottages anywhere
Gorgeous photographs of Glencoe
Hill walks in Glencoe
Munroes in Glencoe
Port Appin
Barcaldine
Accommodation in Lochaber
Kentallen
Ballachulish
Onich