Expanding Cairngorm Mountain's Attractions
A Scottish snowsports resort is broadening its appeal by hosting live music events and advancing plans to introduce an almost mile-long toboggan ride.
Cairngorm Mountain recently hosted what it described as the UK's highest DJ set last Friday, headlined by Valtos, a traditional and electronic music act from Skye.
The resort, located near Aviemore, has also submitted documentation to Highland Council in support of its proposal for the new toboggan track.
One report submitted stated that the toboggan ride would serve a "critical role" in attracting visitors amid increasingly short and inconsistent snowsports seasons attributed to climate change.
More than 300 attendees were present at last weekend's gig, which also featured Kontrast, a DJ duo from Skye and Glasgow.
The performances took place at the resort's Ptarmigan Top Station, situated 3,599 feet (1,097 meters) up Cairn Gorm mountain.
This station is located at the upper terminus of the snowsports centre's funicular railway.
The operator of the site, Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland) Ltd, noted that while it had previously hosted music events, last Friday's gig represented a new strategic direction for the business.
"The event stands as a defining moment for Cairngorm Mountain as we continue to diversify the resort and establish the Ptarmigan Top Station as a new, unique destination for the best of Scottish music, arts, and culture to be enjoyed in years to come."
Toboggan Ride Proposal and Context
The idea of a toboggan run as a year-round attraction was initially proposed in 2018 by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), the public agency that owns the resort.
In September of the previous year, Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) were informed that designers were scheduled to conduct a site visit to assist with planning the facility.
Consultants' reports submitted with the proposal highlighted that snowsports centres in mainland Europe and North America have already incorporated toboggan tracks to broaden their appeal.
The report stated:
"This trend has partly been in response to shorter ski and winter sport seasons as a direct consequence of climate change and global warming.
"The facility is forecast to be the most popular attraction at Cairngorm Mountain and will support the wider attractions and investment in facilities to date."
The report further noted that the toboggan track would be designed to minimize environmental impact, described as a "relatively light touch."
Additionally, it mentioned that the facility could be "easily" installed and removed if necessary.
Winter Conditions and Snowsports Season Variability
In February, Scotland's mountain snowsports centres reported experiencing their best winter in six years.
Glenshee had been operational since late December, with the resort describing conditions as "fantastic."
Glencoe Mountain indicated that the season was the best since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, while Cairngorm Mountain characterized winter conditions as "great."
However, Scotland's mountain snowsports resorts have previously faced challenging seasons due to poor conditions, notably during 2016-17 and 2018-19.
Nevis Range had to postpone the start of its 2024-25 winter season until sufficient snow arrived.
