Cairngorm Up For Grabs

Cairngorm is the latest property up for grabs in the ongoing game of Scottish mountain location, location, location...

The summit of the ski-ravaged mountain has been owned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) but now, according to The Scotsman newspaper, a land management company has been appointed to look into possible options for the future of the 3,500-acre estate, which includes the Cairngorn ski slopes together with the controversial funicular railway which whisks visitors to the summit of the mountain.

According to the article, there is little chance of the estate being sold to a private buyer. Instead, possibilities include ownership being passed to the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) or the local community.

The sale has been welcomed by Dave Morris, the director of the Ramblers Association Scotland, who is quoted as saying that 'it would "lift a dark cloud" that has hung over the mountains for 30 years when the estate was given over by the Forestry Commission.'

Yet the sale itself could spark controversy with some potential buyers said to be hostile to the ski development. One report quotes Fergus Ewing, a member of the Scottish Parliament as saying:

"'Under no circumstances should it fall into the hands of any of the conservation bodies who fought tooth and nail against the funicular.'