Designers to plan 'longest' toboggan ride at Cairngorm

The new ride has been proposed for Cairngorm Mountain ski resort

Designers are expected to arrive in the Cairngorms in the coming weeks to work on plans for what has been described as the UK's longest and highest toboggan ride.

Cairngorm Mountain ski resort announced its proposal for the sled-type ride in April.

Almost a mile of track would carry riders from a point 715m (2,345ft) above sea level.

MSPs were told on Tuesday that the design would determine the eventual length of the track, and they also heard the ride would be fully accessible to people with disabilities.

Representatives from Cairngorm Mountain's operators, and the site's public agency owners Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), were giving evidence at Holyrood on the running of the resort and its funicular railway.

The toboggan has been proposed as an addition to the resort's summer activities, which already include carting and mountain biking.

Under the plans, two people would be able to ride a toboggan at the same time.

MSPs were told it would meet a demand from visitors who wanted an activity that involved "just jumping on and having a go".

The representatives also said visitors could be allowed to use the funicular to access the summit of the mountain Cairngorm, something they are not allowed to do at the moment.

The restriction is in place to protect fragile habitats.

If the proposal goes ahead, visitors would be asked to follow paths.

Bike tracks

Mike Gifford, chief executive of Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland) Limited, said the resort was currently at "break even".

He said this financial year it had made £1.8m, which he said "pretty much" covered the operating costs of Cairngorm Mountain, near Aviemore.

Mr Gifford said there were plans to boost visitor numbers.

He told MSPs: "The toboggan run would really help.

"We are looking at potentially having mountain bike tracks from the top, and also we need to look at opening up the top of the mountain for access for walkers from the funicular to the summit.

"Obviously currently there is a visitor management plan in place so we need to work with partners and do that in a very sensitive manner."

The funicular returned to service in February following a lengthy shutdown

The funicular railway was opened in 2001 at a cost of £19.5m.

It connects a base station with a restaurant and a ski area 1,097m (3,599ft) up Cairn Gorm - the UK's sixth highest mountain.

In February it was returned to service following an extensive programme of work.

The railway was closed for four years from September 2018 due to structural issues with the track.

It was reopened to the public in January 2023 following £25m of repairs before it was closed again in August that year due to snagging issues.