The Lecht: the back story

About The Lecht: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Ski Resorts Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

The Lecht sits at the top of the pass between Tomintoul and Strathdon, 2,090 feet (645 m) up in the Eastern Cairngorms, in the heart of Scotland’s largest national park. It is small, friendly and ideal for families and first-timers, with a SnowFactory system that makes snow for the beginners’ area.

One lift in 1977

The Lecht started in 1977 with a single lift. It has since grown to seven poma drag lifts, a three-seat chairlift, two magic carpets and a rondelle carousel for small children: eleven lifts in all, spread on both sides of the A939 at the top of the pass.

Made for learning

The beginners’ area, with the Robin and Wren magic carpets and the Kestrel poma, is covered by a SnowFactory snow-making system, so the season normally begins in mid-December on factory-made snow. The bigger lifts still need natural snow. Progress from the Osprey to the blue runs of the Eagles, the Grouse and the Snow Owl chair, then cross the road to the Buzzard’s red runs, or try the Falcon, the hardest of all.

Something for every age and ability, all under one roof.

Everything in the day lodge

The Lecht keeps it simple: one day lodge, with the rental department, the Boarderline shop and the snowsports school on the lower ground floor, the ticket office and a self-service restaurant on the ground floor and a café bar upstairs looking out over the slopes. The centre opens from 8:30am, and every lift is checked and de-iced by hand before it runs.

A short, honest season

Like every Scottish centre, the Lecht depends on the weather. Lift passes are released online a couple of weeks at a time so the team can match them to the snow, and the road and lift status are updated on the home page. Come when the snow does, and you will find one of the friendliest days on the hill in Scotland.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with The Lecht: the back story before you go.