Plans to build the UK’s longest and highest toboggan run at a Scottish mountain resort have been approved.
The new attraction at Cairngorm Mountain, near Aviemore, will feature a 1.3km track descending the mountainside from a height of 715 metres above sea level.
The Cairngorms National Park Authority’s planning committee unanimously backed the development on Friday 13 November, subject to conditions.
The proposed ride will use two-person toboggans travelling along a gravity-powered track, with riders able to control their speed using brakes.
It is designed to operate during the summer and winter months when conditions allow, giving visitors another reason to travel to the Highland resort outside the traditional skiing season.
The development is expected to create four full-time jobs, while independent economic research estimates it could generate an additional £484,000 in annual visitor spending across Badenoch and Strathspey.
The resort hopes the attraction will help secure its financial future and support continued investment in skiing and other mountain activities.
Mike Gifford, chief executive of Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland) Ltd, said: “We are absolutely delighted with this decision. The Mountain Toboggan is about much more than introducing a new visitor attraction. It is about investing in the future of Cairngorm Mountain and creating a stronger, more sustainable business that can continue to contribute to the local economy.
“We have made significant progress over the last year, and this development is an important next step in our plans to diversify the business, attract new visitors and create more reasons for people to visit the Cairngorms throughout the year. It will also bring significant benefits to the wider Badenoch and Strathspey community, supporting local businesses and helping to strengthen the area as a year-round visitor destination.
“We would like to thank the Cairngorms National Park Authority Planning Committee for supporting the proposal and everyone who has contributed to the successful outcome. Our team will now begin work on the next steps, which include producing a detailed business case to seek funding followed by a public procurement process for the various aspects of the project.”
The plans attracted objections over their potential visual impact on the mountain landscape and possible environmental damage within the national park.
Aviemore and Vicinity Community Council supported the proposal but raised questions about how the attraction would operate alongside existing paths and wildlife.
The development will include associated structures, landscaping and infrastructure, with environmental safeguards forming part of the planning conditions.
Cairngorm Mountain already offers a range of outdoor activities, including mountain biking, tubing, mountain carting and the funicular railway.