In recent years with the growth in popularity of snowsport touring allied to a lack of snow, problems have occasionally arisen between different user groups and the operators of the five Scottish ski centres. Please follow the guidance below when passing through ski resorts.

Where signed or promoted touring/walking routes exists, please follow the route markers or reasonable advice from the ski patrol. If that is not available, please stay outside of obviously managed areas, and avoid using prepared or obviously managed areas such as uptracks and groomed slopes.

For your own safety and the safety of other users, avoid crossing or going uphill on managed slopes whilst downhill skiing is taking place. Avoid ascent and descent of slopes while the surface is being groomed.

We would encourage snowsports tourers to consider taking advantage of any touring ticket offers for ease of uplift through the managed areas and descent on the piste.

In summary, you can walk, ski or snowboard wherever access rights apply but only where this does not interfere with the running of the business or downhill skiing use of ski resorts. Please minimise your impact on the environment, on other users, and with ski resort management operations.

Photo: Alistair Todd

• Within resort boundaries you are bound by the International Ski Federation’s Code of Conduct. Those skiing or snowboarding downhill have right of way.

• Be especially aware of other skiers and snowboarders approaching from above, changing weather conditions (it is Scotland after all) and poor visibility. Other skiers or snowboarders may not expect you to be there.

• Keep dogs by your side under close control at all times. Dogs can be seriously injured by skis or snowboards.

• Following touring/walking route markers will give access to and from the open hill. If there are no signed routes then please stay on the outside of the snow fence (walk if necessary).

• Try to plan your route to avoid crossing pistes or where this isn’t possible, minimise the amount of time doing so and be aware of downhill skiers and snowboarders.

• Consider where you might be leaving tracks and how it affects the piste; remember that after closing, the runs will have been prepared for the next day. Groomers take pride in providing a quality experience for their paying customers.

• Do not dig snow holes within resort boundaries - yes it really  has happened!
• Ski areas produce artificial snow areas to provide a learning environment for ski schools. These areas can be compact and very busy and as such the resorts request ski tourers, in the interest of safety, to avoid these areas when in use and to follow alternate routing provided by the resorts.