Nevis Range opens Scotland's first ZoomTrax

The newly installed ride drops 4.5m over its 40m length

A snowsports centre has installed a 40m-long slide that is the first of its kind in Scotland.

Made with parts imported from Canada, the ZoomTrax at Nevis Range in Lochaber is accessed by a 3.5m high tower and drops 4.5m over its 40m length.

The slide is the latest effort by the centre to diversify its business.

It already hosts a round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup and in the past three years has opened a high ropes course and a new cafe bar.

Managing director Marian Austin said: "As a business we cannot stand still, we've got to keep listening to our customers, and innovate and diversify.

"As a business located in the Outdoor Capital of the UK we are continually working to provide outstanding outdoor experiences for our visitors."

Ski season

Scotland's other ski resorts have also sought to attract visitors outside of the winter season.

Glencoe has mountain bike trails and tube-like "Hobbit" bunk houses.

CairnGorm Mountain secured permission in May to run its Walk @ The Top guided treks on a permanent basis.

The walks from the Cairngorm funicular railway's top station on to the Cairn Gorm plateau had been run as a trial since 2010.

Scotland's most recent ski season was one of the busiest in years, according to the sport's national body.

Ski Scotland said there were 290,996 skier days between November last year and May 2013.

Skiing and snowboarding at CairnGorm, Glencoe, Glenshee, Nevis Range and The Lecht was also estimated to have raised more than £29m for the economy.

The season was the best since 2009-10 when there was a record 374,789 skier days.

A skier day means one person who skis or snowboards on one day. Many of the same people return to the slopes several times during the season.