Skiing & Snowboarding in the Cairngorms National Park is a guidebook to ski touring and splitboarding in one of Scotland’s two national parks. The book is produced by British Backcountry, which provides ski touring and skills courses in Scotland.
British Backcountry was founded by outdoor instructor and teacher Blair Aitken, who has written the guidebook, alongside three more experienced and enthusiastic skiers, Katie Henderson, Scott Muir and Jamie Johnston.
The list of acknowledgements of other people in the Scottish skiing community, who have contributed and supported the book, runs to some 75.
I write all this at the start of my review because it reveals the extent of the knowledge that has gone into creating to the book.
From the moment that you pick up Skiing & Snowboarding in the Cairngorms National Park – a surprisingly weighty tome – and flick through, it’s obvious that is is a guidebook packed full of information and detail. In fact, there is an immense amount of knowledge about ski touring and split boarding in one area of Scotland.
I am sad to admit that when I looked through the guidebook I could spot only about 20 or so locations, among the 360 routes, where I have skied. I think I am guilty of hearing of a snow forecast and then heading straight to a familiar location.
Perhaps it’s fair to add that the snow conditions have not been that impressive in recent years – and certainly not since I moved to the Highlands four years go – which means the pickings of the best ski tour routes are more limited and I always want to make the most of what I already know. However, as I browsed through the book I realised there are many options I have never considered.
Why ski tour in the Cairngorms?
The Cairngorms are among Britain’s snowiest and wildest mountains. The Cairngorm plateau is cut with multiple big corries, which hold wild crags and lochs. When the snow cover is sufficient, there is great touring terrain to explore.
More detail about the guidebook
The Skiing & Snowboarding in the Cairngorms National Park guidebook covers a wide area, not only in the Northern Cairngorms, but also in the neighbouring areas of the Monadhliath, Drumochter, Beinn a’ Ghlo, Glenshee, Glen Doll and the Eastern Cairngorms, which are accessible from Deeside.
There is a big introductory chapter with plenty of useful information about planning and preparation for ski touring in Scotland. A guide to the history of skiing in the Cairngorms is an interesting read.
The book includes more than 800 images and topos, plus 55 maps, along with detailed route descriptions and loads of information regarding timings, hazards and access.
Every descent route is graded to reveal the difficulty level / gradient, plus there are vital details such as grid reference, aspect, vertical height gain and a map. The routes are concisely explained with recommendations of the best ski lines.
There is also a section dedicated to longer ski tours, such as the Classic Cairngorm 4000ers, but you need a good amount of consistent snow for these.
A section that reveals where to ski in midsummer is for the truly dedicated. This will be skiing on limited patches of snow and you will have to hike or bike with your skis to get close to the snow.
I would say the book is aimed at people who are already fairly experienced ski tourers. You will already own the kit and have the skills to safely ski or splitboard in the Scottish backcountry. There are some easier ski routes but you still need to be able to skin up and reach them.
If you are looking for ideas and inspiration of new places to head for ski tours, or for new descents, in the wider Cairngorms area, this book is a must-have. Even in a winter of poor snow, it’s a great book to have lying around the house for browsing.
Skiing & Snowboarding in the Cairngorms National Park guidebook is priced at £25. See British Backcountry.