10 of the snowiest places in the UK
In this article, we look at some of the snowiest places in the UK based upon how many days of the year on average they see snow falling.
Snowiest locations in the UK - annual average days of snow falling
| Location | Elevation (metres above sea level) | Annual average days of snow falling |
|---|---|---|
| Cairngorm Chairlift | 663 m | 76.2 |
| Baltasound | 24 m | 64.7 |
| Fair Isle | 57 m | 62.8 |
| Loch of Hundland | 28 m | 59.0 |
| Copley | 253 m | 52.7 |
| Leadhills | 393 m | 51.6 |
| Widdybank Fell | 513 m | 50.2 |
| Eskdalemuir | 236 m | 49.8 |
| Kinbrace | 103 m | 49.2 |
| Knockan | 244 m | 48.5 |
All data is based on annual average days of snow falling for the UK from the period 1981-2010. Since falling snow may melt on the ground, this is distinct from the number of days of lying snow.
1. Cairngorms
Home to the most popular snowsports destination in the UK, the Cairngorm National Park in the Grampian Mountains hosts some of the snowiest locations in the UK.
The weather station at the Cairngorm chairlift has the highest average number of days of snow falling, with snow falling on 76 days throughout the year (based on 1981-2010 averages), while the station at Aviemore records 66 days.
2. Shetland Islands
170 km north of mainland Scotland, the Shetland Islands are a series of around 300 islands, though only 16 are inhabited. The village of Baltasound on the island of Unst is home to the Met Office's most northerly weather station and is the snowiest location on the Shetland Islands with 65 days of snow each year, closely followed by Lerwick on the mainland island with 64 days.
3. Fair Isle
Home to the famous knitwear and with good reason, the tiny island of Fair Isle (part of the Shetland Islands) sees snow falling on 63 days each year. The island is midway between the Orkney Islands and mainland Shetland Islands and is home to less than 100 people.
4. Orkney Islands
The Orkney Islands lie off the northeast tip of mainland Scotland and are grouped into the North and South Isles. The Loch of Hundland on Mainland recorded the most snow, with snow falling on 59 days each year.
5. Copley, County Durham
The North Pennines are one of the snowiest parts of England and Copley, County Durham, sees snow falling on average 53 days each year. It is just south of the North Pennines AONB, home to one of only a handful of outdoor ski centres in England.
6. Leadhills
The small village of Leadhills in South Lanarkshire is the second highest village in Scotland at a height of 1,460 ft (450 m) and has snow on 52 days each year.
As its name suggests, the village has been involved in mining lead for hundreds of years, possibly even as far back as Roman times.
7. Widdybank Fell
Widdybank Fell is located in the heart of the North Pennines. It is home to two of the UK's most impressive waterfalls, High Force Falls and Cauldron Snout and the Pennine Way passes through the area. Snow falls on an average 50 days each year.
8. Eskdalemuir
The village of Eskdalemuir in Dumfries and Galloway is one of the most established weather stations in the UK, with data going back over a hundred years. During the period 1981-2010, the village saw snow falling on an average of 50 days each year.
9. Kinbrace
Kinbrace is a tiny village in Sutherland in the Scottish Highlands. Due to its northerly, inland location, this station can record some very low temperatures. On 29 November 1985, the temperature did not get above -10.5 °C all day, the lowest November maximum temperature on record for the UK.
With an average of 49 days each year receiving snowfall, Kinbrace is one of the snowiest places in the UK.
10. Knockanrock
The Knockanrock weather station recorded snow falling on an average of 49 days per year. The village of Knockan is famous for its line of cliffs, Knockan Crag, the name derived from the Gaelic Creag a' Chnocain meaning 'cliffs of the small hill.'
