Christmas is a time when many Britons long to open their curtains and see fresh snowfall outside. While a white Christmas can rarely be guaranteed in the UK, it is possible to increase the chances of spotting snow by heading to the right locations in the country. The Met Office has identified the places in the UK which get the most snow in the winter. Unsurprisingly, the places with the most snow are found in the upland areas of the east and north-east.
Cairngorms, Scotland
The Cairngorm National Park is found in the heart of the Scottish Highlands and is twice the size of the Lake District.
It gets more snow than any other are in the UK, with snow falling on 76 days throughout the year (based on 1981-2010 averages).
Shetland Islands, Scotland
This subarctic archipelago lies northeast of the UK and is made up of over 100 islands, 15 of which are inhabited.
The snowiest place on the islands is the village of Baltasound on the island of Unst where snow falls 65 days a year on average.
Fair Isle, Scotland
Fair Isle in an island halfway between Orkney and Shetland. It is owned by the National Trust for Scotland.
Home to just 68 people, the island is famous for its birds (there is a bird observatory) knitwear and historic shipwrecks.
Snow falls in Fair Isle on average 63 days a year, making it the third best place for snow in the UK.
Orkney Islands, Scotland
Orkney is an archipelago off the northeastern coast of Scotland. Its ancient history is a major draw for tourists as there’s plenty of sites of archaeological interest.
The Loch of Hundland on Mainland recorded the most snow, with the white stuff falling on 59 days each year, revealed the Met Office.
Copley, County Durham, England
Located just south of the North Pennines, Copley benefits from being in one the snowiest parts of England.
Snow falls on average 53 days each year, thanks to which Copley is home to one of England’s few outdoor ski centres.
Leadhills, Scotland
Leadhills is the second highest village in Scotland and is nestled in a high valley in the Lowther Hills, 1,460 feet above sea level.
Thanks to its lofty heights, Leadville get 52 days of snow on average each year.
Widdybank Fell, England
Located in the heart of the North Pennines, snow falls on average 50 days a year in Widdybank Fell.
Its two impressive waterfalls attract visitors – High Force Falls and Cauldron Snout – and the Pennine Way also passes through the area.
Eskdalemuir, Scotland
Eskdalemuir is found in Dumfries and Galloway and has a population of just 265 people.
It is one of the UK’s most established weather stations, with records dating back over a hundred years. Snow falls on average 50 days a year there, according to the Met Office.
Kinbrace, Scotland
A tiny village in the Scottish Highlands, the weather station at Kinbrace records some very low temperatures due to its northerly position.
The lowest November maximum temperature on record for the UK was logged there on 29 November 1985, when it got no warmer than -10.5 degrees Celsius. It receives 49 days of snowfall a year.
Knockanrock, Scotland
The village of Knockan is well known for Knockan Crag, a line of cliffs. It gets an average 49 days of snow each year.
