[www.skiclub.lowtherhills.com]

Lowther Hill Ski Club are planning to install a tow next to the NATS Radar site!

Looks interesting!

Yep, definitely ... The cleugh to the east of the lift is plenty steep and the aspects of the wide open slopes served by the lift will all be on the north. I've skied there a couple of times, the area collects snow well and access off the M74 is super-easy.

I was really surprised that something quite this interesting has stayed under the radar (pun kind of intended) for so long but glad there are dreamers and schemers around with a vision to make it happen.

Hopefully there'll be plenty of us happy to give them the support they need to get it up and running too and some nice snow to keep it going and viable. I'm certainly up for joining working parties between now and winter.

Good to see the Harwood tow getting a potentially new life. Lowther hill is almost exactly the same height as yad moss but is north facing. I wish them well.

Close to Moffatross' neck of the woods?



Edited 1 times. Last edit at 21.00hrs Tue 15 Jul 14 by PeterS.

I don't know anything about the history of Harwood, Peter, but your comment on its similar elevation is interesting. Lowther is also well inland and it's a bit further north too ...

if they were in future able to add a second tow from where the bottom of the nearest-east cleuchs merge to near the proposed club hut, the 'offpiste' acerage would go up by quite some degree.
i've no idea of the snow retention nor thaw rate down that way though, so it could just be pie.

Undeveloped commercial plans from 1988 on the site: [www.lowtherhills.com]

Pity the tree planting hadn't happened then even if nothing else, as they'd definitely help the snow cover now.

Loving the typeface on the '88 report! Written on an Amstrad...they were the future once!

Hi all,

Many thanks for your interest in the Lowther Hills. I'm the chair of the Ski Club, please do let me know if you have any questions about the project and I'll do my best to provide as much info as I can :-)

In the meantime, thanks to WinterHighland.info for retweeting about our new website, and I'd like to take this opportunity to let you know that the Ski Club is hosting a "Volunteer Open Day" on July 27th in Lowther Hill.

"Come along and enjoy a visit to the slopes before the works start in September. Meet new friends and like-minded people interested in snowsports, and find out how you could help to create and be part of the first ski centre in the South of Scotland."

More info:
[www.skiclub.lowtherhills.com]

Tremendous news for skiers in D&G, the Borders, elsewhere in southern Scotland and anyone really keen that wants to get involved hands on with local skiing.

I've had so much fun over the years at Yad Moss and Raise and so have plenty of others. Despite the highly variable and usually frustrating conditions trying to ski south of the Highlands, when eventually it all comes together it is fabulous.

You will however need to be patient and enthusiastic, but I can confirm it does get into your blood.

Plenty also going on at Raise; new motor, new motor control, new fuel tank, wind turbine repaired etc. Also maintenance continuing at Yad Moss this summer; new summit elephant fence, another pylon being refurbished...... Looking forward to being a gang of five club fields again next year rather than four.

Very best wishes to the Lowther Hills Ski Club.

What's the position with access? As I understand it, it's a private road up to the radar station so will it be a case of 'hoofing' it up from Wanlockhead?

Kind regards

Olderalan

Hi Olderalan,

That's correct. The Radar road is privately owned and no public vehicular access is allowed.

However, the Lowther Hills Ski Club has permission to drive one vehicle on the Radar road for the purposes of maintaining and operating the facilities. The next thing on our list is to own a suitable vehicle to provide transportation between the village and the slopes.

We don't have the means yet, so members will have to walk up (and ski down) 1.5 miles on the Radar road for the time being. We are hoping however to be able to start providing lifts for families and young children this year on an occassional basis, whenever snow conditions and volunteer availability allows.

Thanks for replying and for the additional info.

Kind regards

Olderalan

With Alan, Jamie and snowplc, checking out some of the proposed ski runs above Wanlockhead today (the Canadian maple flies as part a memorial to the pilot of a WWII aircraft). Lots of work needs to be done to get it ready for this winter and assistance is sought by the club for working parties over the coming months but it will be worth it. The terrain served by the lifts is more diverse and on a grander scale than we'd thought and the views north to the village and the hills beyond are pretty awesome ...

I'm certainly looking forward to joining and helping out with this new exciting and local adventure.

A few seasons ago now ... [www.youtube.com]