Coronavirus in Scotland: Watch the lengths skiers are going to make the most of Scotland’s 'best' winter conditions

Clicking into skis and taking to slopes has been possible for many in most parts of the country as Scotland experiences the best snowfall it’s seen in the last decade, according to experts.

From the Pentlands near Edinburgh to Ben Nevis in the Highlands, the idyllic, powdery snow and blue skies have glistened across the Scottish regions for months.

While many have enjoyed the rare, decent dollop of snow in the lower parts of the country, some skiers in the north have been going the extra mile, scaling impressive heights without ski lifts in action to make the most of the ideal weather.

“It’s the best conditions I have seen in Scotland,” said Euan Baxter of Snowsport Scotland.

Skiers enjoying the conditions which have been described as the best in the last decade picture: supplied

The 40-year-old, from Aviemore, has been regularly climbing Cairn Gorm – which reaches 1,245m – to get his skiing fix.

Without chair lifts to help him up, the keen snow sportsman has done one week where he topped 5,000m ascent in total hiking up the mountain on his skis.

“There’s normally a road, called ‘Ski Road’, which you can use to drive from Glenmore by Loch Morlich - about 330m - to the Cairngorm Mountain Base Station which is at 635m,” Euan said.

“But with that being closed due to Covid rules, and the lifts not running, it means you have to skin it.”

Lesley Mckenna, tree run on Meall a Bhuachaille in January 2021 when out with Euan Baxter picture: Euan Baxter @euan_

‘Skinning’ is a skill used by skiers who do backcountry skiing, otherwise known as off-piste or alpine touring.

But it’s a technique that everyone who wants to take to the slopes this year has had to learn due to the latest Covid lockdown shutting chair lifts.

It involves skiing up a hill or on a level surface using special bindings on the skis that grip the snow – originally ‘skins’ were made out of seal skin.

“What would normally take ten minutes in the car to get to the base station now takes about an hour skinning,” Euan said.

Andy Stewart flying off Ben Nevis having skinned up the 1,345m mountain picture: Andy Stewart

“Then to skin up to the mountain summit takes probably another two hours depending on ability.

"Your legs get tired.”

All those hours spent trudging up the mountain for the run down to last minutes? It’s totally worth it he said, especially in this year’s conditions.

Ski flying?

Kenneth King's pictures of a day out on the hills with views of Lowther Hill picture: Kenneth King

Andy Stewart, from the Highlands, spent hours skinning up Ben Nevis which reaches a staggering 1,345m, making it Scotland’s highest peak.

The keen adventurer then skied from the summit to the top of one of the mountain's gullies where he unpacked his speedwing – similar to a paraglider – and flew to the bottom with his skis on his back.

"It took me nearly three hours to skin up and just two minutes 20 seconds to get down,” he laughed.

A picture Andy shared with The Scotsman shows a police officer waiting at the bottom of the mountain for the flying skier to land.

“He was driving past when he saw me coming into land,” Andy said.