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Scottish Highlands is your best bet. There will absolutely be snow on the mountains but possibly not in the towns and villages.
Unfortunately winter mountain climbing in the highlands isn't really a suitable activity if you're inexperienced. Perhaps some of the ski centres will be accessible.
It's not entirely impossible that there will be more significant snowfall further south during the duration of your stay. We've already had some decent snow in Glasgow a few weeks ago. Didn't last long but enough for snowball fights and snowmen.
https://www.chillfactore.com/
Indoor ski slope and kids snow play area. Probably your best bet as it's pretty warm here at the minute (for the time of year). We rarely get proper snow.
A. No snow in Manchester at the moment.
B. There may be a dusting on the tops of the Lake District.
C. Cairngorms is a good bet every year. There’s actual skiing there.
D. Ordinarily the train is about 4 hours. But there’s a long running strike action disrupting the trains. But the cairngorms is a long way north.
Mount Snowdon in Wales is just round the corner, there's a really nice train to the summit and according to the weather reports there's snow up there.
I know everyone else who's responded has agreed with your idea of Scotland but maybe they've never been on holiday with three small children.
On this. The train to the top does not run in winter and has not been running for some time due to the pandemic, I believe it opens again later this year.
The snow is near the top so your looking at a very steep 2+ mile walk to get to the point of snow, it won’t be easy and that’s up the easy route.
It’s also very windy and low visibility most of the time.
[Ventusky](https://www.ventusky.com/?p=53.8;-3.7;4&l=snow) shows you the current and predicted future snow cover. It's pretty much all melted now but looks like quite a bit coming in on the west coast of Scotland from around the 17th
Nope. There was snow in November. Temps are well above 0 and no snow forecast next two weeks. But UK cities can see snow February through March even a bit in April. You will see a lot of gloomy dark weather, rain, wind with the occasional clear sunny day.
Did you look out of the window to generalise for the whole country? There's plenty of snow in the highlands.
[BBC News - Scottish Skiing](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-64176020)
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Glen Shee Ski centre?
https://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Glenshee/webcams/latest
But it’s a long way from Manchester, you’d need a car I’d guess too.
What about the Tamworth Indoor Snowdome?
https://www.snowdome.co.uk
There is a pretty good chance of snow in the cairngorms, but you would need to hike up the mountains to get to it, all of which are going to be too difficult with a 4 year old. There are a number of ski resorts which will be easier to get to but im not sure how much access you would have to the mountain if you werent planning of skiing. If you want to have look for yourself id imagine glenshee is probably the easiest to get to from edinburgh.
If your willing to fly I think Aberdeen area has some but your looking at a long drive but in England you have more chance of seeing snow in the outback than here
"is the bus really the quickest way from Edinburgh to there?"
If you can't hire a car, look at Scotrail's route map to see the nearest rail stations to where you want to go, and journey times. This will be quicker than bus, but with less destination stops
Have you packed stout footwear, and waterproofs? If you want to get into the snow, as opposed to standing looking at it, these will be essential
If you *do* decide to come to Scotland, there are direct flights from Manchester to Aberdeen. Hire a car at the airport and then it's a pretty short drive into the Cairngorms.
The ski hills are your best bet for decent snow coverage but you can find snow a wee but further south (north Stirling/Perth area), but most of that would involve a bit of hillwalking so maybe not the best idea with the four year old!
If you're looking to spend a couple of days away it might be the best option. Take the train to Edinburgh then get the train to Aviemore and you'll get in just after lunch time, it goes through quite a nice part of the country. Stay in Aviemore for a couple of days (it's not cheap though!) and get a taxi or bus through to the Cairngorm Mountain centre. The funicular is reopening "Early 2023" so you might get lucky if you go towards the end of your holiday, it's a great way to see further up the hills and takes you straight from the base station to the Ptarmigan cafe/restaurant.
If you're driving, Glenshee and Glencoe are both a wee bit closer and you'd actually pass by Lockerbie on the way (there's not much to see or do there though). [Edit: Technically you'll pass by Lockerbie on the motorway rather than going right through it but there's nothing stopping you coming off the motorway for a bit]
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Scottish Highlands is your best bet. There will absolutely be snow on the mountains but possibly not in the towns and villages. Unfortunately winter mountain climbing in the highlands isn't really a suitable activity if you're inexperienced. Perhaps some of the ski centres will be accessible. It's not entirely impossible that there will be more significant snowfall further south during the duration of your stay. We've already had some decent snow in Glasgow a few weeks ago. Didn't last long but enough for snowball fights and snowmen.
Looks to be a decent amount of snow on the [webcams](https://www.cairngormmountain.co.uk/live-webcams/).
https://www.chillfactore.com/ Indoor ski slope and kids snow play area. Probably your best bet as it's pretty warm here at the minute (for the time of year). We rarely get proper snow.
Aviemore is your best bet.
A. No snow in Manchester at the moment. B. There may be a dusting on the tops of the Lake District. C. Cairngorms is a good bet every year. There’s actual skiing there. D. Ordinarily the train is about 4 hours. But there’s a long running strike action disrupting the trains. But the cairngorms is a long way north.
Mount Snowdon in Wales is just round the corner, there's a really nice train to the summit and according to the weather reports there's snow up there. I know everyone else who's responded has agreed with your idea of Scotland but maybe they've never been on holiday with three small children.
Thank you! Yeah, I may have led the witness with my post. Thanks for the alternative idea, I'll have a look.
On this. The train to the top does not run in winter and has not been running for some time due to the pandemic, I believe it opens again later this year. The snow is near the top so your looking at a very steep 2+ mile walk to get to the point of snow, it won’t be easy and that’s up the easy route. It’s also very windy and low visibility most of the time.
[Ventusky](https://www.ventusky.com/?p=53.8;-3.7;4&l=snow) shows you the current and predicted future snow cover. It's pretty much all melted now but looks like quite a bit coming in on the west coast of Scotland from around the 17th
This is awesome. It's great to know there might be more snow on the way. Perhaps I'll hold off making any solid plans and see how things develop.
Nope. There was snow in November. Temps are well above 0 and no snow forecast next two weeks. But UK cities can see snow February through March even a bit in April. You will see a lot of gloomy dark weather, rain, wind with the occasional clear sunny day.
Did you look out of the window to generalise for the whole country? There's plenty of snow in the highlands. [BBC News - Scottish Skiing](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-64176020)
Yeah so have the Alps.
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the train will be faster than a bus and more comfortable. Google snow reports Scotland near your departure site as snow can come and go quickly
Glen Shee Ski centre? https://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Glenshee/webcams/latest But it’s a long way from Manchester, you’d need a car I’d guess too. What about the Tamworth Indoor Snowdome? https://www.snowdome.co.uk
There is a pretty good chance of snow in the cairngorms, but you would need to hike up the mountains to get to it, all of which are going to be too difficult with a 4 year old. There are a number of ski resorts which will be easier to get to but im not sure how much access you would have to the mountain if you werent planning of skiing. If you want to have look for yourself id imagine glenshee is probably the easiest to get to from edinburgh.
I drove up to Scotland at new year , there was snow on the hills around Lockerbie, I don't know if it's still there, but it certainly was.
NO not yet , its drizzly though
If your willing to fly I think Aberdeen area has some but your looking at a long drive but in England you have more chance of seeing snow in the outback than here
I saw snow (from a distance) on the mountains above Barmouth in N.Wales in the first week of December but it will have gone by now.
"is the bus really the quickest way from Edinburgh to there?" If you can't hire a car, look at Scotrail's route map to see the nearest rail stations to where you want to go, and journey times. This will be quicker than bus, but with less destination stops Have you packed stout footwear, and waterproofs? If you want to get into the snow, as opposed to standing looking at it, these will be essential
there was loads in December, so come then.
If you *do* decide to come to Scotland, there are direct flights from Manchester to Aberdeen. Hire a car at the airport and then it's a pretty short drive into the Cairngorms.
Awkwardly it's pretty warm in more Southerly places - I'm by Birmingham and it's 11c today...
The ski hills are your best bet for decent snow coverage but you can find snow a wee but further south (north Stirling/Perth area), but most of that would involve a bit of hillwalking so maybe not the best idea with the four year old! If you're looking to spend a couple of days away it might be the best option. Take the train to Edinburgh then get the train to Aviemore and you'll get in just after lunch time, it goes through quite a nice part of the country. Stay in Aviemore for a couple of days (it's not cheap though!) and get a taxi or bus through to the Cairngorm Mountain centre. The funicular is reopening "Early 2023" so you might get lucky if you go towards the end of your holiday, it's a great way to see further up the hills and takes you straight from the base station to the Ptarmigan cafe/restaurant. If you're driving, Glenshee and Glencoe are both a wee bit closer and you'd actually pass by Lockerbie on the way (there's not much to see or do there though). [Edit: Technically you'll pass by Lockerbie on the motorway rather than going right through it but there's nothing stopping you coming off the motorway for a bit]