Snowsports season at Cairngorm Mountain to come to an end this weekend
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The 2022/23 season will draw to a close on Sunday.
Some 32,000 snowsports visits have been made to the resort over the past winter.
But there will be no hanging about as work will start on the new mountain biking trails that will create a family all-round year attraction as Cairngorm Mountain looks to widen its appeal and react to the climate emergency.
Initially it has been hoped that the new trails would open last autumn but the project was hit by delay.
Just under three kilometres of mountain bike trails will be constructed at Cairngorm Mountain and a conveyor belt uplift system is already in place on the lower slopes which is now also used by skiers and snowboarders.
The three trails will be located between the Day Lodge and the mid-station of the Cairngorm funicular and are designed to cater for beginners and learners as well as intermediate cyclists.
Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland) Ltd chief executive Susan Smith said: "Skiing will end on Sunday and the construction of the mountain biking trails start next Monday (April 17).
"The resort has been visited by around 32,000 skiers and snowboarders so far which is more than double that of last winter."
There was more fresh snow overnight – the resort is looking whiter than it has done for many weeks – and the resort is expecting some nice snow sports in the Ptarmigam Bowl.
The Polar Express and Ptarmigan T-bar are running as well as the funicular.
There are snow showers at the moment with Easterly winds of 20 mph at the top station and 15 mph at the Base Station. The temperature is -2.0C in the top bowl and +1C at Coire Cas car park level.
Ms Smith said: "One of the big highlights this winter was the park area in the Ptarmigan Bowl created for The BRITS which was admired by the Olympic representatives in attendance at the competition."
The Cairngorm funicular finally returned to full operation in late January after being out of service for more than four years on safety grounds.
It followed major repairs and testing with the final bill estimated to be in the region of £25m.
