Natural Retreats UK starts running CairnGorm Mountain

Natural Retreats UK has started running the business in the Highlands

A leisure business has taken over the running of the CairnGorm Mountain snowsports centre, near Aviemore.

Wilmslow-based Natural Retreats UK was named in February as the preferred bidder for the centre, which includes Scotland's only funicular railway and the UK's highest restaurant.

The ski centre is owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).

The railway connects a base station with the Ptarmigan Restaurant 1,097m (3,599ft) up Cairn Gorm mountain.

Natural Retreats owns holiday accommodation at a number of locations in the UK and elsewhere.

It has a 25-year lease for the running of CairnGorm Mountain.

Natural Retreats said in April that it would invest £6.2m in the resort over the next five years.

HIE has also given the company a £4m loan to develop a new day lodge.