School Holiday Survival Tips
Some Top Tips for Visitors over Holiday times.
We expect the Christmas and Easter holidays to be a busy time and it is likely there will be queues for services like the ticket office, ski hire and ski school. We hope these top tips will help customers plan their visit and get the most out of their stay. There is a regular bus service that will run from Aviemore Village up to the ski grounds on a daily basis. The bus is a quick and easy way to get you straight up to the top car park when we are busy.
Getting Here
Please check electronic signs on the ski road for car park status updates. A public bus service runs from Aviemore Station on a regular basis and we would encourage the public to use this service if the car parks are full. Car sharing is also highly recommended so we can maximise car park space. We will be operating a free shuttle bus service between the Ciste and Cas car parks.
Opening Times
First public train up is 9.00 am. Other uplift will open from 8.30am subject to conditions. Competent skiers and snow boarders are encouraged to use the surface lift system (pomas and t bars) to reach higher runs and relieve congestion on the funicular.
Safety Message
Please note that to reduce the number of runaway boards causing injury to other hill users, all snowboards must have a leash attached to the board. If you don't have one, they can be purchased from either the Mountain Shop or Shop at the Top.
The Ticket Office, Cas Bar and Equipment Hire will be open from 8.00am daily. We may run out of hire equipment - particularly smaller sizes. There are other hire outlets in the area and we strongly advise you to hire off-site and not to rely on hiring equipment on the mountain. A list of hire outlets nearby is detailed below:
Outdoor Discovery: 01479 811066 / 811776 (on the ski road at Inverdruie)
Active Outdoors: 01479 780000 (Aviemore)
Glenmore Shop: 01479 861253 (on the ski road at Glenmore)
Aviemore Ski and Snowboard Hire: 01479 811711 (Aviemore)
Ellis Brigham: 01479 810175 (Aviemore)
Nevis Sport: 01479 810239 (Aviemore)
Ski School
The Ski School is usually very busy during holiday periods. They offer both private and group lessons and also have courses on offer. Please book by calling 08455 191 191.
Buying Tickets
Non-skiing visitors and sledging visitors will require a funicular ticket to ride the train. We would advise you to plan to visit after 11am and before 3pm to avoid the busiest times at the ticket office. Snowsports visitors require a skiing ticket – this includes unlimited use of all lifts and the train.
If you have purchased tickets online, have a book of vouchers or have purchased a voucher from a hire shop – these can be exchanged in the Ticket Office in the Base Station.
SKI HIRE CUSTOMERS PLEASE NOTE you now don't need to queue at the Ticket Office to pay for your equipment and lift ticket. You can now head straight to Hire to collect both your equipment and lift ticket, all in the same building. If any of your party already has their own equipment they can purchase a lift ticket at the same time or go to the Ticket Office if they prefer.
Rental deposit - debit or credit card or cash (£200) – no passports, car keys, mobile phones or pets please!
Purchase your tickets on line at http://www.cairngormmountain.co.uk/buy-tickets- online/ Please note that buying your ticket in advance is not a guarantee that you will get through the snow gates when we are busy. You still need to get here early.
You can also pay for one day full price ski ticket vouchers at the following venues. However, you will still need to come to the Ranger Base to redeem your voucher.
Glenmore Shop: 01479 861253 (on the ski road at Glenmore)
Outdoor Discovery: 01479 811066 or 811776 (on the ski road at Inverdruie)
Active Outdoors: 01479 780000 (Aviemore)
Catering
Consider taking an early or a late lunch. Ski school classes do make the lunchtime period very busy.
The Ptarmigan Restaurant (Top Station). Snacks, hot drinks, bar and hot menu.
The Cas Bar (Day Lodge). Bar, Hot drinks and light snacks.
The Day Lodge T Bar (level 2) will be open for packed lunches and hot drinks and sandwiches, cookies and muffins are also available from here.
