The Facilities
The skiing and boarding facilities at
Allenheads are provided by the British
Norwegian Ski Club (BNSC) who have developed the facilities over the last
40 years through seasons of plenty and, at times, famine. From the 4/5
months a year of skiing during the late 70's and early 80's, the club has
survived through the recent leaner times when we look for a few weeks, or
weekends of skiing a winter. The last 3 years have seen some excellent
conditions, especially in 2004 & 2005 with over 2 weeks of skiing each season. The position of the slope and its
situation in the upper Allen valley means it captures any snow that is going
and can support skiing with barely 5 - 10 cms of snow.
The facilities at Allenheads offer a friendly atmosphere and welcome all abilities of
skier and snowboarder. They are especially good for families and provide an excellent
opportunity to get the kids started on the snow.
And, perhaps most of all, absolutely no
queues
You need to supply your own skis, snowboards etc.
We do
have a few donated pairs of boots & skis to lend if would
like to give them a try, but as we can't vouchsafe for their
quality or safety, you will need to check them out yourself.
The
Runs
The two lower tows are each about 100 metres in length, offering runs
of about the same distance.
When in place the upper tow is about 120 metres long and, because of the steepness of
the hill, can offer somewhat longer runs.
The lower slopes are mainly suitable for beginners and intermediate
level skiers, however even these provide excellent opportunities for the
more experienced to get rid of the cobwebs and loosen up on some of the
real white stuff. The upper run is fun for anyone – and certainly
challenging for most. One warning! Don’t wear your new expensive, chic
ski gear - strong gloves and washable jackets are far more practical with
the rope tows.
Snow Quality
One of the great benefits of the club’s location is the relative
reliability and quality of the snow. This is especially true of the lower
slopes which lie in a sheltered position with nearby woods acting as an
excellent snow fence, helping to build up good depths of snow. The
position and lie of the lower field is such that enjoyable skiing can be
had with only limited snow cover - a couple of inches can suffice!
When Open
Whenever there is snow, we run as many tows as possible at
weekends and, if someone is available to run the tow, we also
run them during the week. Last year we ran them for 17
consecutive days!!
Facilities at the Field
Don’t expect Alpine restaurants and terraces for sun bathing - saying
that, our new cabin does have its own
terrace!
The club’s facilities have been improved this year with a new cabin,
with chairs & its own terrace, replacing the old, rather basic hut with
its wooden benches. It will provide a far more pleasant spot to eat your lunch or
have a drink.
The village of Allenheads, which is all of a 150 metre walk away, has a
variety of additional facilities. It provides toilets, a post
office cum shop, the excellent Hemmel
Coffee Shop and the
Allenheads Inn which offers good food as well as the obligatory good drink
in a remarkable old building. The village also offers other places of
interest. See the guide to the North Pennines and to the village of
Allenheads itself.
How to Find Us
For information on where we are, see How to Find Us
