UK's longest toboggan run approved for Cairngorm Mountain

Plans for a mile-long toboggan run on Cairn Gorm have been approved by the Cairngorms National Park Authority.

Its planning committee, meeting in Grantown on Friday, unanimously green-lit the proposal for the UK’s highest and longest toboggan run.

The “dual rider track” proposal from Cairngorm Mountain Ltd promises a “safe, exciting, best-in-class experience for the public”.

The toboggan run will be built on land about 300 metres east of the mountain. The idea was first mooted in 2018.

It has support from Aviemore Community Council while objectors have argued that it would be visually intrusive and that its construction would breach local environmental policy.

The plans were first put forward in 2018

The applicants claim the additional facility could add almost £500,000 a year to the local economy.
Scottish Government ministers will make the final decision on the planning application.

Mike Gifford, chief executive of Cairngorm Mountain, told the park authority’s planning committee that in the past year the company had welcomed more than 180,000 visitors and reduced an operating loss from £2.5m to £500,000.

He said: “Assuming a reasonable ski season, we believe that Cairn Gorm would be cost neutral with this toboggan [run] in place and that is a huge step forward.

“A financially sustainable mountain means we can continue to invest, employ people and support our wider community, which is a key focus of mine.”

'World-class' toboggan run planned for Cairngorms — ‘World-class’ toboggan run planned for Cairngorms Cairngorm Mountain

Objector Dave Morris said experience of such facilities at other locations “are best developed in a forest zone, not on higher, more open slopes.

“A relocation of this toboggan run to a lower altitude should, therefore, be considered.”

He believed the visual impact of the project had been “understated” and reminded the committee that a previous application for an artificial ski slope on the same hillside was rejected on the grounds of “landscape sensitivity”.

It will be Scotland’s second toboggan ride and, at 1.2km, will surpass the 980m Alpine Coaster at Midlothian Snowsports Centre near Edinburgh.