Cairngorm Mountain to close for two days per week from next week
Cairngorm Mountain is moving to a five day a week operation after this coming weekend, resort bosses have announced.
They have said the decision has been taken for several reasons,
A resort spokesperson posted online: "This is because we’ve entered a much quieter period following the end of the February school holidays, coupled with the funicular being currently out of operation and a lack of natural snow to access the Ptarmigan Bowl.
"From this Monday (March 4), we will open from Thursdays through Mondays and closing on Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout March.
"If weather conditions improve and we get new natural snow which gives access to the higher snow fields then we will review our operating model."
Susan Smith, Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland) Ltd chief executive said: "This is an operational decision which I reluctantly had to take.
"It's the perfect storm of no funicular and no natural snow.
"At the end of half term the ski schools have very little bookings. On Monday there were just 27 customers."
"There will be no negative impact to permanent staff."
Operating hours will also change slightly from Monday onwards with the resort being open from 9.15am to 4.30pm.
The BBC recently reported that the funicular might not be open for months.
Dave Macleod, Highlands and Islands Enterprise's head of property and infrastructure, had been asked whether the mountain railway would be out for weeks, months or years and replied that ‘months’ was the most likely of the three options.
An HIE spokesman told the Strathy: "Our contractors are continuing to work to get the funicular back in service as soon as possible but we’re unable at present to provide a definite timescale."
