Departing boss says Cairngorm Mountain can have bright future
A brand new big money summer attraction and removing the controversial closed system will help Cairngorm Mountain hit the heights again, the company’s departing boss has said.
Susan Smith is retiring today after more than five years at the helm of Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland) Ltd during one of the most turbulent times in the resort’s history.
This has included the Covid pandemic and the operator being without its most valuable asset - the Cairngorm funicular - for the vast majority of this period.
But Ms Smith firmly believes that the resort is on track to achieve six-figure visitor numbers again and move to a year-round market if certain breakthroughs can be made.
One of these is the removal of the closed system in place since the funicular opened in December 2001 which prevents visitors leaving the Ptarmigan top station outwith winter.
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Ms Smith said: “I think it is essential that this is opened up in the summer. It is almost like eating a sweetie with the wrapper on… Report after report says there is no issue to the flora and fauna on the mountain.”
She continued: “It’s an anachronism- I can understand its purpose in 2001 but we are going into 2025 and the world is a very different place.
“The current operator has proven time and time to be mindful of the environment.”
The project received around £2.9m in EU funding and there was always a fear that this money would have to be paid back if public access was allowed from the Ptarmigan station year round but the 25-year agreement expires next year.
As she prepared to leave the role, Ms Smith also revealed ambitions for a demountable mountain coaster to be the next major addition.
“Products like this are a norm across European ski resorts,” she said.
“Hopeful the application will be lodged next summer but there is a lot of work that needs to go on behind the scenes.”
She continued: “We have been looking at topography and radius of where a mountain coaster could operate.
“It is very finely balanced - there are lots of people who want it and there is an element who do not.
“But the reality is that we have nearly two million people coming through the Glenmore corridor and not all of them want to enjoy the peace of the mountains.
“There is plenty for every segment of the market if we could just come together and agree on some key things which are right for Cairngorm.”
Ms Smith also revealed that plans for a brand new Day Lodge were off the cards for now with parent company Highlands and Islands Enterprise instead committing £80,000 to refurbish and ‘futureproof’ the existing building.
The masterplan proposal for a new chairlift in Coire Cas has been placed on the backburner because of the ‘fiscal landscape’.
She also expects the resort to remain in public sector control for many more years to come after the miserable failure of the experiment with Natural Retreats.
Ms Smith said: “The staff are happy; they are not concerned about their futures. The business is run well because of the governance procedures which are in place.”
The departing boss also had praise for local MSP and former Minister Fergus Ewing’s unstinting support during tough times for the resort.
She said: “We had a very steadfast Minister who believed in Cairngorm Mountain and took a very active interest in the progress of the company. I’d like to thank Fergus for this - it was really, really important that he did this at that time.”
Ms Smith was also full of praise too for CMSL’s staff - around 50 people are employed in the summer and more than 100 when the winter operation is in full swing - and the local community.
On the highlights of her time on the hill, she said: “Seeing the resort how it is today - the staff motivated and doing a good job across the site.
“We have an apprenticeship programme and a good relationship with the BSSSA (Badenoch and Strathspey Schools’ Snowsports Association) and the local ski schools.
“We have a summer product and a winter product and we are trying to even out the peaks and the troughs so that the business is much more resilient.
“Nobody wants to be dependent on this (public funding).
“We want to be profitable here and by developing these products - which are by no means Disney-like rides - we are moving to a sustainable resort.”
She continued: “I would like to thank the local community for their on-going support of Cairngorm Mountain.
“It is really important particularly for the local staff to see that the community is behind them and I hope that we have shown that we are receptive to the community.”
Mountain biking had long been called for as one way of attracting more footfall but it has had a relatively slow start since its launch.
Ms Smith believes that once the funicular is back in service and can drop riders off at the mid Station then figures will pick up.
Part of her remit has been to develop an all-year attraction.
Other activities added in recent times including most recently carting, a marble run aand there is also now tubing and a redeveloped exhibition at the Ptarmigan.
Ms Smith believes that Cairngorm Mountain is in a better position now than when she took over.
“That is what I set out to do and it would not have been difficult to leave it in a better position,” she said.
“This is such a special place… and it deserves investment to protect Badenoch and Strathspey’s economy particularly in the winter when there are little alternative attractions.
“Cairngorm is a national treasure and it will remain that as long as it is in safe hands.”
Initially seconded from estate owner Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in 2019 after the previous resort operator fell into administration, Ms Smith secured the role on a permanent basis following open recruitment in November 2021.
CMSL board member Tim Hurst will become interim CMSL chief executive following Ms Smith’s departure.
He will be supported by technical operations manager Colin Matthew and land manager Jim Cornfoot who will take on greater responsibility.
