This might be of interest. The north German resort of Winterberg is proposing new lift and piste links to its smaller neighbours. This is a presentation of the problems, opportunities, user numbers, costs of putting in the lifts etc. Even in German, you can follow it.

Why is it relevant to Scotland? The Hochsaurland resorts are dependent on day and weekenders from the Ruhr and the Netherlands. Neuastenberg, one of the pocket resorts to be linked can get running on a few centimetres of snowmaking. And had a near death business moment about ten years ago. Investing in snowmaking saved it.

[winterberg.ratsinfomanagement.net]

These resorts are the next hill over, needing one or two lifts to reach each other. All scottish resorts are a minimum of 15 miles from each other, how can you link up? A 15+ mile cable car past Ben Nevis to Glencoe? Or a Cairngorm-Lecht link in a National Park?

Snowmaking is one thing, but the Winterberg case doesn't make it any more/less relevant for Scottish resorts. Plus classic snowmaking doesn't work as well in Scotland as it does in Winterberg. The snowfactory investment is the way to go for now.

So after application of Google translate the take away from this is that if you don't invest in your ski area with more modern lifts and snowmaking then you will wither and die.

simple, well-proven business concept ain't it? Obviously CML don't get it.

Or HIE. HIE are meddling with the entire Scottish snowsports industry and are making a howling arse of the whole thing.

ML: I did not suggest linking Scottish resorts any where in the post. The headline subject reflects part of the experience of these German resorts facing their own challenges... some of which are similar to Scotland. Unreliable snow fall, reliance of urban day trip market etc. I think jabuzzard’s Google Translate endeavours some it up nicely.