CairnGorm Mountain Company gone bust

[phillybarbour]

Sad day for many of us that like skiing in the UK, unlikely to open this winter and the long term future could be in question. With the funicular not running and repair costs potentially being huge it’s an uncertain time. Feeling bad for the employees and local businesses that really on the winter skiers.

 

[Robmac]

Very sad news.

I'm not a skier, nor do I use the funicular but it does give access to the mountain to many who otherwise would miss out.

 

[Wooie1958]

We`re not skiers either but whenever we was in the area we always had a trip on the funicular and had passes :sad:

 

[trevskoda]

My we girl is ment to be going with school trip next winter,she will be devastated.

 

[caledonia]

It’s their own fault. They just spent more money removing old lifts than it would cost to repair them leaving themselves fecked now the funicular is out of action. Look at the rest of Scotland’s ski centres they don’t rely solely on the winter and have used their lifts to access mountain bike trails, Fort William done this 15 years ago and reaps the rewards. This is good news. Hopefully the hill will be run properly now and not by narrow minded skiers.

 

[jagmanx]

Caledonia's post is interesting

Aviemore was my introduction to Ski-ing way back in 1975
A Minibus trip with scouts from Maidenhead
5 days learning to ski in poor weather.
Having driven in a minibus with 10 scouts from Berkshire with a very cold overnight in the Lake district
However in many ways it is a good starter as if you cannot Ski you find out easily and cheaply.
I could ski and subsequently went on many many week-long trips to Austria France Italy
So great

Before reading Caledonia'post I assumed that the Mountain Company also organised other activities as posted.

Great shame and I hope "Aviemore can survive" as others have posted the knockon effects are DIRE

Obviously the "Funny Peculiar" needing repair is a huge financial issue and it maybe that new cablecars/gondolas are a more viable solution.. But year round use is surely the key

 

[caledonia]

Aviemore was my introduction to Ski-ing way back in 1975
A Minibus trip with scouts from Maidenhead
5 days learning to ski in poor weather.
Having driven in a minibus with 10 scouts from Berkshire with a very cold overnight in the Lake district
However in many ways it is a good starter as if you cannot Ski you find out easily and cheaply.
I could ski and subsequently went on many many week-long trips to Austria France Italy
So great

Before reading Caledonia'post I assumed that the Mountain Company also organised other activities as posted.

Great shame and I hope "Aviemore can survive" as others have posted the knockon effects are DIRE

Obviously the "Funny Peculiar" needing repair is a huge financial issue and it maybe that new cablecars/gondolas are a more viable solution.. But year round use is surely the key

A Gondola would have been a far better investment but they wanted a funicular because it wouldn’t be closed with high winds. But it needs dug out every morning because the snow blowing over the tracks.

 

[Tonybvi]

There was a programme on Radio Scotland last weekend dedicated to the ski centre problems and interviewing all involved both now and historically. One of the biggest problems is that in the Cairngorm ski area, unusually the beginners runs are at the top of the hill rather than lower down. No funicular means no access for beginners and it is typically the beginners who bring a lot of the money into the area. It is they who keep the ski and equipment hire shops in business.

 

[jagmanx]

Yes

There was a programme on Radio Scotland last weekend dedicated to the ski centre problems and interviewing all involved both now and historically. One of the biggest problems is that in the Cairngorm ski area, unusually the beginners runs are at the top of the hill rather than lower down. No funicular means no access for beginners and it is typically the beginners who bring a lot of the money into the area. It is they who keep the ski and equipment hire shops in business.

As with my post and probably Trevskoda's wee one
I suggest beginners are the "bread and butter" or should I say "Neaps and Tatties" of most Scottish Ski areas
One people have learnt they venture abroad (Sad but true)

A bit like Motorhoming ?
Although we have toured Scotland 2x and maybe again in 2019 !