Scottish ski centres to make fake snow to pull in visitors

CairnGorm Mountain will be one of three Scottish slopes producing fake snow for skiers this winter.

Fake snow will be produced for three of Scotland's five mountain snowsports centres to make them viable this winter.

CairnGorm Mountain and Glencoe Mountain in the Highlands plan to start using “snow factories” early next month.

A giant snow making machine will also be trialled at The Lecht in Aberdeenshire in February and March.

All three centres will use the manufactured snow to cover some of their slopes to allow them to guarantee snowsports.

Glencoe Mountain Ski resort is to install snow machines to keep people skiing through the snow drought. A snowboarder is pictured on the Coire Pollach ski run.

The move has been prompted by last season’s ski conditions, which were labelled “challenging” due to fluctuating temperatures and a lack of snow.

Scotland has experienced a relatively mild autumn to date.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise has provided funding to The Lecht Ski Company for their snow making trial.

Glencoe Mountain is leasing a snow-making unit, which it hopes to eventually be able to buy.

A crowdfunding campaign will be used to raise enough money to purchase the unit the firm is leasing.

The decision to produce fake snow to improve cover on Scottish slopes comes with a proposed community buyout of CairnGorm Mountain a step closer.

A trust has been set up to lead the purchase. Aviemore and Glenmore Community Trust has emerged from the aspiration of a group of local businesses to take over the CairnGorm Mountain snowsports centre.