Scotland weather: 'I am 6ft7in and it's above my knees' - What it's like living in Braemar where snow has reached 'record' levels

Ever tried to shovel snow while it’s still snowing?

That’s what residents of Aberdeenshire village Braemar have been doing for weeks as the community continues to go about its daily life under at least 70cm of snow – and still counting.

Simon Blackett, who has lived in the region for 30 years, said snowfall has reached almost one metre in some areas, the heaviest he has seen in the last 15 years.

"I am 6ft7in and the snow is above my knees,” he said, astounded by the wintry weather conditions.

Simon Blackett, who is 6ft7in, knee-deep in snow next to the Braemar sign picture: supplied

"Imagine what it’s like for a normal-sized person – certainly up to the waist.

"We have had snow on the ground for months now, and recently it’s just not stopped snowing so we have about 9in to a foot of soft powdery snow on top of what was already there.

"It’s about 70cm in total.”

Simon, 66, said lorries and diggers have been visiting the village daily to remove enormous piles of snow that have been pushed to the side of the roads, freeing up space for drivers who dare travel at the moment.

Simon Blackett breaking ice at the community's hydro electric scheme to help water flow picture: supplied

"We obviously get snow most years up here,” Simon added, “but this year the sheer, physical quantity has been quite something."

"It’s definitely the heaviest amount of snow I have seen in a long time.”

Simon, who is retired, said like most years when the village experiences heavy snowfall residents have come together to help those who are snowed in.

One of his first jobs every morning is to head to the village’s community hydro electric scheme to break the ice where the filter is to allow water to come through.

Photos shared by a resident in Braemar where the village has seen 70cm at least of snowfall picture: supplied

He also delivers newspapers to the elderly who have been unable to leave their homes for days.

"Luckily all our over 70s and 80s in the village have received their coronavirus vaccination,” he added.

"I know some in surrounding towns have been delayed due to the snowfall but Braemar’s local surgery had it in hand.”

Local farmer Bob Fyvie is also spotted out and about on his tractor by the early risers before sunrise pushing heavy snow off the roads where he can.

Another picture showing the deep snow at Braemar in Aberdeenshire where residents have had snow on the ground for at least the last three months picture: supplied

Lynne Chalk, who manages the local Coop in Braemar’s centre, where there is also a butcher, a pharmacy and a surgery, said one of the food delivery trucks was unable to access the shop on Tuesday this week due to the record snowfall.

"This is definitely the most snow we have all seen in years,” she said.

"I know we had a lot in 2010, but there is definitely more this year. It’s 70cm roughly, and probably higher in some areas.”

Despite disruption to traffic, Lynne said the village has become a true winter wonderland this month.

"We have deer coming off the hill and into the village looking for food which is just magical to see,” she said.

"A whole herd of stags were here recently.”

The Met Office does not have an official snow depth observation site in Braemar to compare the 70cm measurement against.

The deepest snowdepth recorded in Scotland for February dates back to 1963, where an incredible 91cm fell in Whitchester in Berwick on February 17.

Snow and ice warnings are still in place for Thursday and Friday for parts of Scotland, forecasters have said.

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