Big Plans for Glencoe Ski Centre

Glencoe Mountain, the ski-centre at the head of Glencoe, is hoping to tap into funds which will allow a major upgrade of the skiing facilities as well as making the centre a year round attraction. The plans include three new mountain bike trails, an adventure playground, accommodation for walkers on the West Highland Way, and a dry ski slope.

The centre was bought last year by Falkirk businessman, Andy Meldrum, amid worries that it might have to close altogether due to ageing equipment and the difficulty of making the centre pay. Scotland on Sunday reports that Mr Meldrum plans to turn the centre into a Community Investment Company (CIC) which would allow it to bid for public, European and Lottery Funding.

CICs are becoming increasingly popular in Scotland with a number of small community companies being formed to take over rural shops, petrol stations, and even to run community windfarms. The Skye Ferry Company is such a CIC and has to plough any profits back into the business rather than issuing dividends to shareholders.

Glencoe Mountain, which opened in 1956, was Scotland’s first commercial ski centre, but has been dogged by financial concerns in recent years. It has 19 runs and 7 lifts, but much of the infrastructure is 40 to 50 years old and in need of a complete overhaul. In addition the relatively short season and distance from the central belt means it has struggled to attract the number of winter skier’s to make it financially viable. Mr Meldrum said that they were talking about needing a seven-figure investment to make the centre a year round attraction.