Scotland offers many sporting and leisure attractions. Skiing is just one of them, to be enjoyed in the scenic splendour of Scotland's mountains in winter and well into spring.

Today, downhill skiers and snowboard enthusiasts have five main ski areas offering both fun and challenging skiing, while ski tourers and cross-country devotees have a superb choice of high and low level expeditions and trails.

The Hawthorns is equidistant at 23 miles, from both Cairngorm and The Lecht, but all five centres are capable of being reached from Grantown for a days skiing, weather permitting.

Scottish skiing is friendly and unpretentious. Skiing here is about fun, about improving skills and about having an enjoyable break in a superb environment. Scottish skiing has something to offer both the serious powder-hound and parents with young families.

Scotland is a really good way for novices to try out the sport or for lapsed skiers to sharpen up their turns before high costs skiing holidays else where in the world! Scotland's easy to reach slopes are the ideal practice ground for the dedicated skier and snowboarder to keep up their standards.

Check out the ski reports, grab a weekend and come and join us!

Cairngorm Ski Area: High above the old pinewoods of the ancient Caledonian forest, it is one of the most popular skiing and boarding areas in Scotland. Offering 37km of skiing, covering 19 pisted runs up to 2.2km long, with a maximum vertical descent of 2,000 feet. Cairngorm has currently 17 lifts, a mixture of chairs, pomas and T-Bars, and is in the process of building a mountain railway, which will improve access to the mountain further in the winter of 2001/02, when completed.

The Lecht: A real fun and family ski area, all ski runs head back to the car-park so parents don't need to worry about the kids getting lost. Offering 20km of skiing, covering 21 pisted runs up to 0.9km long, with a maximum vertical descent of 700 feet. The Lecht has 14 lifts, being one chair 7 pomas and 6 trainer tows for beginners. A great area, it offers all sorts of other activities for the non-skier and in the summer offers an artificial ski area, fun karts, quad bikes etc.,