Resort guide · United Kingdom

Glenshee: Our Ski Guide

Scotland’s largest ski area, across three valleys at the Cairnwell Pass on the A93: 22 uplifts and more than 40 km of pistes, with Braemar and Royal Deeside to the north. Scottish skiing depends entirely on the snow and the wind: seasons are short and change from day to day, so check the operator’s mountain report before you set off.

Plan your trip:Official resort site Our London guide

The back story

Season: Weather-dependent; 2026/27 prices published (ski-glenshee.co.uk) · Ski area: 22 uplifts across 3 valleys; over 40 km of pisted runs (operator) · Top of the terrain: 3,504 ft (about 1,068 m) · Lift pass: Adult day £40, beginner £35, family £125 (operator, 2026/27) · Distances: About 2 h from Edinburgh, 1 h 47 from Aberdeen by car (operator)

The back story

Glenshee: the back story

Glenshee·In depth

Scotland’s largest ski area, on the Cairnwell Pass: from a rope tow driven by an old tractor in 1955 to 22 uplifts across three valleys.

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Lift passes, ski schools and hire

2026/27 prices, parking included

Glenshee lift pass

Glenshee·Lift pass·€€

An adult day costs £40 in 2026/27, with an artificial-snow day at £35, a beginner pass at £35 and family days at £125; parking is included.

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Book by the day before

Glenshee equipment hire

Glenshee·Ski and snowboard hire·€€

Ski or board packages at £34 a day for adults, £28 for juniors and £22 for children under ten in 2026/27, plus a servicing workshop.

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Forty BASI instructors

Glenshee Ski & Board School

Glenshee·Ski and snowboard school·€€

The on-site school, run by Chrissy and Erin with 40 BASI and Snowsport Scotland instructors: group lessons from £37 per person, a children’s ski academy, telemark and touring.

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Private and group teaching

Blair Snow Sports School

Glenshee·Private instructor·€€

Cally Gordon, a ski and snowboard instructor of many years, teaches private lessons and groups at Glenshee.

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Dink Dink, rope tow, Claybokie and Baddoch

Glenshee beginner area

Glenshee·Beginner area·€

A dedicated beginner pass covers the Dink Dink, the rope tow, the Claybokie and the Baddoch chairlift, with snow-making since 2019.

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Where to stay, every budget

Who it suits. On a budget: A beginner pass at £35, Braemar Youth Hostel or a motorhome hook-up at the lifts, and lunch at Tea@TheShee. Mid-range: Braemar Lodge’s log cabins or Dalmunzie Castle, with lessons from the Glenshee Ski & Board School. Luxury: The Fife Arms in Braemar, with Two MICHELIN Keys, the Clunie Dining Room and Bertie’s Whisky Bar.

Two MICHELIN Keys · In depth

The Fife Arms

Glenshee·Five-star art hotel·€€€€

A five-star boutique hotel in Braemar with 47 themed rooms and suites, more than 16,000 artworks, the Albamhor Treatment Rooms with a bespoke sauna, the Clunie Dining Room, Elsa’s and Bertie’s Whisky Bar.

Mar Road, Braemar AB35 5YNExplore View on map
At the end of a secluded glen · In depth

Dalmunzie Castle Hotel

Glenshee·Castle hotel·€€€

A Scots Baronial former laird’s mansion at Spittal of Glenshee, on an estate dating from 1510, with four-poster and tower rooms, two suites, Scottish seasonal cooking, single malts, golf and the Cateran Trail on the doorstep.

Spittal of Glenshee PH10 7QGExplore View on map
In the heart of Braemar

Braemar Lodge log cabins

Glenshee·Self-catering log cabins·€€

Self-catering log cabins in Braemar with open-plan living, French windows and covered verandahs, one equipped for wheelchair users.

Braemar AB35 5YQExplore View on map
A former shooting lodge

Braemar Youth Hostel

Glenshee·Youth hostel·€

A former shooting lodge in its own grounds in Braemar, on the Snow Road, with private rooms, dorms, a drying room and kitchen.

Braemar AB35 5YQExplore View on map
At the ski centre

Glenshee motorhome hook-ups

Glenshee·Motorhome pitches·€

Electric hook-ups and overnight parking for motorhomes at the ski centre, booked online; no tents or caravans.

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Restaurants and mountain huts

The main base

Tea@TheShee

Glenshee·Base café and bar·€

Glenshee’s largest café: breakfasts, freshly made sandwiches, pies, soups and burgers, with local meat and bakery, and a licence for a beer or a rum in your hot chocolate.

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Top of the Cairnwell chair

Cairnwell Café

Glenshee·Mountain café·€

A bright, airy café at the top of the Cairnwell chairlift with panoramic views; morning rolls, lunch and afternoon tea in the ski season.

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A chalet in the middle valley

Meall Odhar Café

Glenshee·Mountain café·€

A chalet-style refuge on Sunnyside for hot rolls, speciality burgers, continental hot dogs and frites, 11am to 4pm in season.

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In the MICHELIN Guide

Clunie Dining Room

Glenshee·Hotel restaurant·€€€

Open-fire cooking of prime Scottish ingredients, from lobster to venison, beneath Murano chandeliers at the Fife Arms; in the MICHELIN Guide.

Mar Road, Braemar AB35 5YNExplore View on map
MICHELIN Bib Gourmand 2026

Fish Shop, Ballater

Glenshee·Seafood restaurant·€€

A smart seafood restaurant in Ballater, a Bib Gourmand in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide United Kingdom, for good-quality, good-value cooking.

3 Netherley Place, Ballater AB35 5QEExplore View on map

Après-ski and bars

The heart of Braemar

The Flying Stag

Glenshee·Village pub·€€

The Fife Arms’ pub for Braemar: Scottish dishes, local ales and a fire to sit by after the drive down from the Cairnwell.

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More than 500 whiskies

Bertie’s Whisky Bar

Glenshee·Whisky bar·€€€

An elegant bar at the Fife Arms with a library of more than 500 whiskies, arranged by flavour.

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Art Deco in the Highlands

Elsa’s Cocktail Bar

Glenshee·Cocktail bar·€€€

A cocktail bar at the Fife Arms inspired by Elsa Schiaparelli, with signature cocktails and Art Deco glamour.

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Shops

Ski hire in Braemar

Braemar Mountain Sports

Glenshee·Outdoor shop and hire·€€

Outdoor clothing and equipment with ski, bike and climbing hire in Braemar, with branches in Aviemore and Ballater, open daily.

Braemar AB35 5YPExplore View on map
Tartan, tweed and Scottish craft

The Fife Arms shop

Glenshee·Gift and homeware shop·€€€

A treasure trove of tartan, tweed and homewares celebrating Scottish craftsmanship, curated by Manuela Wirth.

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Spas and wellness

At the Fife Arms

Albamhor Treatment Rooms

Glenshee·Hotel treatment rooms·€€€

Massages and treatments at the Fife Arms, with a private PT Pod and guided wild swimming and pinewood walks.

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Getting there

From Dundee and Aberdeen

Ember electric bus to Glenshee

Glenshee·Bus·€

Since 2025, Ember’s electric buses have run daily to Glenshee from Dundee and Aberdeen.

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The A93 over the Cairnwell Pass

Driving to Glenshee

Glenshee·By road·€

On the A93, the highest public road in the UK: about 2 hours from Edinburgh, 2 h 15 from Glasgow and 1 h 47 from Aberdeen; watch for the snow gates.

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Pitlochry, Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen

Nearest stations and airports

Glenshee·Rail and air·€

The nearest stations are Pitlochry, Perth, Dundee and Aberdeen; the nearest airports Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee.

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Property: the neighbourhoods

The highest parish in the UK

Braemar

Glenshee·Neighbourhood

The Royal Deeside village north of the Cairnwell, in the UK’s highest and most mountainous parish, with the Fife Arms, cabins and a youth hostel.

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Royal warrants and Deeside charm

Ballater

Glenshee·Neighbourhood

A Deeside village known for its royal connections, with shops displaying royal warrants and the Bib Gourmand Fish Shop.

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The southern approach

Spittal of Glenshee and Blairgowrie

Glenshee·Neighbourhood

The Perthshire side of the pass, from the Spittal of Glenshee and Dalmunzie to Blairgowrie and Cateran country.

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Share your Glenshee tips

Been there? Share your runs, huts and tips with other skiers.

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