Canoe believe this weather?
THE vagaries of the Scottish weather are the stuff of legend but they were demonstrated in sharp relief yesterday.
Wintry conditions swept the nation – and snow returned to one beauty spot which only 12 months ago was basking in sunshine.
Intrepid canoeist Jamie Wedlock braved an unexpected Arctic blast in the heart of the Highlands as he ‘enjoyed’ a spring jaunt around the chilly waters of Loch Morlich, near Aviemore, Inverness-shire.
The sudden cold snap was in contrast to the picture 12 months ago, when tourists warmed to bright sunshine that gave the loch’s sands an almost Mediterranean feel.
The snow offered a welcome boost to Scotland’s snowsports industry, however, with centres predicting a good weekend.
Glencoe Mountain’s upper, mid and lower slopes are open, as is CairnGorm Mountain, while Nevis Range reported good conditions.
Snow is not unusual in April and last year wintry conditions lingered into May. Freezing temperatures and fresh snow have been forecast for the uplands this weekend.
Heather Negus, of Ski Scotland, said skiing and snowboarding in Scotland in springtime was often possible, but added that there was a ‘distinct lack of customers’ due to peoples’ misconceptions.
She said: ‘We can offer great sliding, particularly on the upper mountains, but down in the valleys, people see daffodils and believe the ski season is over.’
The Scottish Avalanche Information Service warned climbers collapsing cornices could pose a risk in Lochaber, Glen Coe and the Cairngorms. And yellow ‘be aware’ warnings were in place overnight for snow in the Highlands, Central, Tayside and Fife. Emma Sharples, of the Met Office, said: ‘Cold air from the north will give a fair chance of wintry showers.’
Meanwhile, a King Eider duck, normally found within the Arctic Circle, has been spotted at Achiltibuie, Wester Ross.