Yad Moss Ski Resort Guide
Nestled in the North Pennines, Yad Moss is a far cry from the French Alps but retains a certain charm. The locally run ski resort relies on the support of volunteers but has developed a thriving ski community in the north of England. Yad Moss is proud to have England’s longest ski lift.
YAD MOSS FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Arriving at Yad Moss, a short 5-minute walk follows roadside parking to the ski tow. The tow and the ticket office (shed) can be seen from the road and you soon realise that you are a world away from modern amenities, not that this is a bad thing. The single tow has been providing lift-served skiing in the Pennines for the last 40 years, I couldn’t wait to try it out.
YAD MOSS SKI AREA
Yad Moss has an optimistic piste map that includes 7 runs and 4km of pistes. I say pistes because Yad Moss actually has a piste basher! This means that when the conditions are right the skiing can consist of some epic groomers.
The ski area at Yad Moss relies on fences to ensure that drifted snow remains in the resort and isn’t swept across the Moors. The resort itself offers 120m of vertical descent with the highest point being at 720m.
LIFTS AT YAD MOSS
Yad Moss has a single poma lift which serves the ski area. This button lift has a claim to fame, it is England’s longest. It might also contest for England’s bumpiest with conditions along the lift tow being variable. Ensure you are comfortable riding a button lift before heading to Yad Moss. The Yad Moss Poma is 600m in length.
YAD MOSS SNOW RECORD
Unlike skiing and snowboarding in the Alps, the snowfall at Yad Moss is incredibly variable. The team of volunteers are reactive to changes in weather and does a great job of running the tow as and when it is possible.
RAISE LIFT TICKETS
MEMBER LIFT TICKETS
A new adult member season pass at Yad Moss costs £55. Renewing your membership is reduced to £40. Find more information on membership here.
DAY PASSES
A day of skiing at Yad Moss will cost £20 for non-members
TRAVEL TO YAD MOSS
WHERE IS YAD MOSS?
Yad Moss is located in Cumbria, England, just a few miles from the small town of Alston. While it may not be as well-known as some of the other ski resorts in the UK, it is still easily accessible by car.
If you’re driving, it’s about a two-hour drive from both Newcastle and Manchester, and there is ample parking available along the roadside at Yad Moss.
YAD MOSS PROS
Yad Moss is a Ski resort in England so gives us the chance to ski at home.
There is a great community feel at Yad Moss.
You can ski all winter as a member for £55 which is great value… if the snow comes.
Yad Moss is a spectacular setting with great views across the Pennines.
YAD MOSS CONS
Yad Moss has unreliable snowfall so you have to react rather than plan
Yad Moss has runs that are mellower than Raise in the Lake District.
YAD MOSS SKI RESORT INFO
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Raise Ski Resort Guide
When I first heard about Raise I thought it was a joke. Being from the south of England and growing up wishing for just one white Christmas I just hadn’t considered that further north the conditions would be in place to run a ski tow. Older and wiser Raise, now my local ski resort, is the home to the Lake District Ski Club who operate the tow at Raise.
RAISE FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The ski tow at Raise is a good one hour walk from the car park. I arrived on the Glennridding side and parked up by YHA Helvellyn. From the moment I parked up I began to get a feel for Raise. Welcomed by another enthusiastic skier, I was getting my first impressions of the community feel. We began the walk in the sun with snow a distant sight, but gradually ascended towards the snow line. It dawned on me that there will be no apres crowd here. Everyone at Raise is there for the skiing, this left me even more excited to meet other like minded souls.
As we reached the snow line, the members hut and the tow lift became visible and everything was feeling more real!
RAISE SKI AREA
The ski area at Raise is small but offers 9 ungroomed runs. Snow fences are used to trap the majority of the snow and ensure that the Cumbria’s windy conditions don’t spoil all the fun! The ski area offers opportunity to explore further with backcountry routes possible on The Dodds and Helvellyn. The longest run at Raise is nearly a mile long, which pails in comparison to the 16km offering at Bansko but I know where I had more fun.
Two runs of note are Savages Gully and Presidents Run. Savages Gully was the original run at Raise dating back to the use of a tractor tow whereas Presidents Run is the easy route back down to the base, named after a former ski club president who wasn’t very capable.
The views from the ski area are impressive with views across Ullswater and Thirlmere. From the top of Raise you can see across to Helvellyn which is impressive covered in snow.
LIFTS AT RAISE
There is one lift at Raise ski resort. A simple button tow lift that runs 360m up to the top of Raise. The Lake District Ski Club was founded in 1936 and has run a tow maintained by the club members ever since. The lift operates around 60 days during a good winter with maintenance meetings taking place during the summer to ensure everything is in working condition.
RAISE SNOW RECORD
Unlike skiing and snowboarding in the Alps the annual snowfall at Raise is unlikely to be massive. But a little bit of snow can offer up some fantastic conditions. Depending on the year the amount of days Raise is open can vary greatly but good years offer the potential for 40-60 days of lift assisted snowboarding in the Lakes!
SEASON DATES
Although never consistent it is possible for the season to start at Raise in November. There will be periods throughout the winter without enough snow to run but as the video above shows… good years can offer snow in May!
RAISE LIFT TICKETS
MEMBER LIFT TICKETS
Member season passes are £50 and allow for unlimited use of the lift tow on Raise.
DAY PASSES
A day of skiing at Raise will cost £30 for non members although depending on conditions and time of arrival discounts are offered.
TRAVEL TO RAISE
WHERE IS RAISE?
The easiest route up to Raise is from the village of Glenridding. There is a car park at the end of a long road between Glenridding and the YHA Helvellyn. This road is more gravel then road and when covered in snow would require winter tyres and snow chains for non 4x4 vehicles. The car park is reserved for hostel guests and ski club members so if you are neither of these things you will need to walk the track from Glenridding.
HOW TO GET TO RAISE
Getting to Raise will require a one hour walk up hill to the tow. The route follows a winding track up to raise. You should be well equipped with correct footwear and if you can carry your ski’s/board on a rucksack you will be happier. I walked up day one in snowboard boots which was fine, but day two I opted for walking shoes and was much more comfortable.
Depending on the amount of snow it is possible to skin up from the snow line. If you have touring gear this will make your ascent much quicker.
RAISE PROS
Ski resort in England
Really nice community run ski resort
Ski all winter as a member for £50
Spectacular setting with awesome views of the Lake District Fells
RAISE CONS
Unreliable snow.
GET IN TOUCH
Thanks for reading this Raise ski resort review and I hope it has answered many of your questions. I’ve given my opinion but I’d love to hear from you in the comments or via the socials. Have you been to Raise ski resort? What were your opinions? Are there better ski resorts in the UK?
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IF YOU FOUND THIS POST USEFUL AND YOU THINK IT MAY ALSO HELP OTHERS, PLEASE LIKE, SHARE AND COMMENT TO PROMOTE IT TO OTHERS
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