Not good news for Scottish snowsport industry / Aviemore.
Though hardly a surprise given the way business has been run over last decade.

Not long until winter arrives : obvious question, funicular problems aside, is if someone will be able to take over in time to operate at all this winter ?

Cairngorm funicular company placed into administration
[www.bbc.co.uk]

What company is it that has been put into admin? Natural retreats or a subsidiary?

which bit of the financial spiders web has gone under?

CML - Campbell Dallas are the administrators

Hmm, I'm not so sure it's so easily explained away. Agree about the poor management, but difficult to see what has forced this to happen just now.... costs due to the broken train haven't really been felt yet? I'm sure folk will be along soon to say how this fits with the asset stripping theory....

It is CML that have gone bust.

At a guess the impending funicular report doesn't make pleasant reading and they have decided to fold... The accounts might make interesting reading given the money that has been transferred to Natural Retreats as "management fees".

Terrible timing given winter season about to be begin. In due course lots of questions need to be asked about HIEs shambolic role over the last decade - in particular the amount of public funds misspent on the funicular while downsizing the ski area.

nice way for them to wash their hands of the mess they're in I suppose.

Here's hoping someone competent steps up to take over!

Yet another blow, but now perhaps the mountain can move on to a brighter future with CML/NR off the scene. Still the issue of HIE owning the place ...and any new operator will need deep pockets or at least appear to have deep pockets to satisfy HIE.

Community buy out...

BUT HIE still own, but the community run it & HIE get the funding to pay for new stuff etc...

go to the Aviemore/cairngorm trust meeting next Thursday...

I will be..

---That was not a fall, I intended to do that!---

This has to be the opportunity Scottish snowsports need to sort out the shitshow that has defined the management of Cairngorm Mountain for the past 20 years. Scrap the money-drain purple elephant train set now. HIE people who have had anything to do with handing over the place to Natural Retreats (or whatever they're calling themselves today) must admit they were completely wrong and be kept away from any decision making. Consultation with the snowsports community must be a key part of decision making going forward.

It amazes me that the other 4 areas have survived and indeed have been able to invest and even with millions upon millions of public funds wasted on it Cairngorm can only now offer a fraction of the sport available prior to the purple elephant going in.

Community buyout?

^ On paper a public funded community buy out is a fantastic idea.
In reality I suspect the logistics and economics are challenging.

Whoever takes over Cairngorm may need initial funding just keep the lights on.
Likely that is going to need to come from HIE (who still own the land and assets).

For reasons I have never fully understood the rot lies deep. Real political pressure probably required to stop the same mistakes being made time after time.

MSPs vote to 'reverse' Highlands and Islands Enterprise plans
[www.bbc.co.uk]



Edited 1 times. Last edit at 15.23hrs Thu 29 Nov 18 by Doug_Bryce.

Feel sorry for season ticket holders, I don't suppose there'll be much chance of a full refund now.

If people paid by credit card it might be easier to claim money back from the credit card company with CML now in administration, for those who didn't use a credit card it may be difficult to get anything.

Any idea on what it would cost to buy it outright?
Would a euromillions win tomorrow night (46 million) be enough to buy everything, ie the land, buildings,access road and all the machinery Ect and get the place back up and running?
Ok this season might not be great but by next winter the train set could be repaired AND a ciste chair lift installed. The environmental damage could be offset by the gondola idea.

Think if i had 46 million the last think i would want, would be a ski resort in Jockland