The lake usually begins to freeze again in November and then is covered in many feet of snow until the thawing cycle begins again in the late spring.
Every year the locals anxiously await for Lake Louise to freeze solid enough to start the skating season. There’s nothing more magical than gliding across the ice with the magnificent backdrop of Victoria Glacier. Depending on the temperatures the rink is usually ready for use in the first week of December.
Note that the article says "usually" and it is from a few years ago, so an early December opening is far from guaranteed.
I was talking about both variability and climate change. Climate change (warming) is having a very marked change on glaciers. Don't know how much it's affecting lakes in alpine areas.
Ok so maybe January is a safer bet?
Whole post
OK, so I started writing a reply to the Original Post shortly after the thread was posted. And, after leaving it for a few days due to watching the European Championships, I finished it there now. But, now that I have returned to the thread and have clicked on NanaPat’s links, I realise that you are talking about a different Banff to the one I thought you were talking about.
But, I’ll post my reply anyway, in case anybody is interested in going to that part of the world.
Although I’ve never been to the north of Scotland (the furthest north I have been is Stirling), I decided to research a reply anyway as I have heard Mike Dixon talking about Aviemore a lot during the Biathlon coverage, but I never knew where exactly it was. So, this was an excuse to look it up.
To be honest, I was puzzled as to why you would choose Banff over the main settlement in the north-east of Scotland, Aberdeen. Yes, Banff is closer to the Highlands if you want to explore there, but from what I can see online, there doesn’t seem to be much to do in Banff itself.
As a larger town, Aberdeen has a lot more to offer. And looking at the map, it seems to be better connected to places you may want to go to. Travelling south along the coast road for about an hour and a quarter will take you to Dundee. There is a lot to see and do in Dundee. Not least for us that are interested in figure skating, because the Dundee Ice Arena is one of the main coaching centres in the British Isles, not just Scotland.
Back to Aberdeen's connections, and you’ve got the ski resort of Aviemore directly to the west. And Banff is around an hour and a quarter away to the north (or an hour and a half if you take the coast road).
But, when I was checking the travelling times there now, I discovered that you can’t travel directly from Aberdeen to Aviemore. You have to go most of the way to Banff, and then head back inland.
So, bizarrely, Banff probably is a better option. OK, so the 2 and a half hour journey time to Dundee probably rules out a trip there. But, if you want to skate, Aberdeen does have it’s own NISA recognised rink.
Elgin, an hour west along the coast road from Banff, also has an ice rink. And it has a lot more things to see than Banff as well. Personally, I think it would be the best option for somewhere to base yourself, as it is pretty central to all the major places that you might want to visit.
- Inverness is an hour west along the coast road from Elgin
- Banff is an hour east along the coast road from Elgin
- Aviemore is an hour and a quarter inland (i.e. south) from Elgin
- Aberdeen is an hour and a half from Elgin if you take the inland route (2 and a half hours via the coast road)
Inverness is the main settlement in the north of Scotland, and the door to the Highlands. And being closer to Inverness is a big benefit if you want to go skating. Because the Inverness Ice Centre has FIVE rinks. Yes, you heard that correctly, FIVE rinks. That’s more rinks than the whole island of Ireland has!
So, that is what I have found out doing a bit of basic searching on Google. I am sure that you will find out a lot more if you do deeper research.
Whatever you decide to do, I hope you have a great time!
CaroLiza_fan
OMG that is so hilarious and so sweet. Thank you. I've been to England but not Scotland. It's on my list, trust me, The Scottish landscape is magnificent.
But what about Lake Louise?
Banff AB and Lake Louise AB are actually about a 45 minute drive from each other.
To make things more interesting, there are three places called Lake Louise that are near each other, but not exactly the same (as short drive but a substantial distance on foot).
There is the actual lake, Lake Louise, with the lake, hiking trails, a massive parking lot, Chateau Lake Louise, and the skating. There is Lake Louise Village, with shopping, accommodation, restaurants and campgrounds, that is near where you turn off the highway for the lake. And there is Lake Louise Ski Area, which is across the highway from the village.
Banff is booked. I'm going via Vancouver and Calgary. I'll spend 2 nights in Lake Louise and 2 nights in Banff. Can't wait. I'm so looking forward to skating at Lake Louise. I would like to have my Axel by then.
Where are you staying at Lake Louise?
My sister told me about HI hostel where she stayed at so I’m thinking that but I haven’t booked and I’m open to suggestions? I would like to stay somewhere cozy and with a fireplace. I also won’t be driving and catching a bus so somewhere central.