Cairngorm Mountain's plans for two new hill tracks at resort are approved
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Plans have been approved to create two permanent new hill tracks near the Day Lodge, and by the Shieling in the mid-station area at Cairngorm Mountain.
Members of the Cairngorms National Park Authority’s planning committee unanimously backed the two applications by Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland) Ltd at their latest meeting.
The company had provided a long list of operational benefits that the tracks will deliver.
The Base Station route will run from the Coire Cas car park to the eastern side of the Base Station building and will be some 150 metres in length.
CMSL bosses have said it helps to allow the “future realisation of the Cairngorm Masterplan” with on-site improvements to the buildings and car parking.
Since the completion of the funicular track, entry onto the hill access track has been between the Day Lodge and Base Station then under a low underpass on a steep short section of hill track.
Resort bosses had told planners that vehicular access in both summer and winter is constrained as a consequence.
The new route will also make it easier for piste machine movements in poor snow conditions and improve access for snowsports to the base of the Day Lodge Poma.
The area could be developed 'imaginatively in the future for a better customer experience'.
The new Shieling track will run from north to south, going under the funicular track, and again is about 150 metres in length.
The resort said the work will allow more creative use of the area for snowsports in future planning. It is currently a pinch point of many pistes joining into the lower slopes.
It will also mean that there is a safer vehicle access to service the Sheiling building which still houses toilets, a technical maintenance workshop, pack lunch area, race office and ski patrol store.
Both tracks lie within the Cairngorms National Scenic Areas but are not covered by any other specific environmental designations.
The resort’s consultants, Atmos Consulting had, pointed out that both proposed permanent stretches of track follow the route of existing footpaths. However, the new tracks will be wider.
Ed Swales, the CNPA’s monitoring and enforcement officer, stated in his report: “The purpose of the proposed tracks are to rationalise the track network around the two buildings in light of the recent changes to the funicular and other developments, some tracks will be restored as a result of these new tracks.”
Mr Swales also said that the applicant has confirmed there will be no fences, bollards or signs as a result of the two new tracks.
He told the meeting: “These tracks will be relatively hidden behind existing buildings as well as being part of quite an extensive tracks network on the mountain.”
Quizzed by committee member Eleanor MacKintosh on the removal of tracks and their reinstatement, Mr Swales said: “They will be removed and the grounds restored effectively to what it would have been beforehand.”
Committee member Willie McKenna said: “In the past getting underneath the funicular track at both of these sites has proved to be very difficult and it looks to me that this is to accommodate the Kassbhorers (piste-bashers).”
CMSL chief executive Susan Smith welcomed the go-ahead for both tracks.
She said: “We’re naturally very pleased that the CNPA’s planning committee has approved both these applications.
“Work will now start to secure funding support from our parent company (Highlands and Islands Enterprise) to enable us to undertake the works.”
• The approved plans for the two tracks can be viewed here
