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Hi,
Midlothian strapped for cash but still pushing ahead with Hillend Ski slope upgrade.
Time to tweak it for a trail centre lift for uplift and trails built that are all weather. Plenty scope around the hills. Surely this would create more income than ski or snowboarding ?
Used to have a trail there, it wasn't great (as I was able to ride it) - although this is going back about 25 years so suspect memory is very fuzzy! Used the lift but from vague memory the ski centre didn't like it as it was proving popular and meaning skiers were having to wait for a seat on the lift and avoid other users. So it got closed down.
I suspect there are proper reasons for it, but I don't recall them.
If it can be used to help get people up to then use more of the hills then it wouldn't be bad...new trails that would encourage folk would also be great - if they are downhill then all good, but they'd need to be planned in properly.
The idea of MTB trails at Hillend has been on and off for about 30 years.
Chairlift at Innerleithen must be up and running by now.
There was a downhill race at Hillend years ago (1999ish?). It was a novelty but very short. Wasn’t repeated.
It was quicker to push up than get the chair lift.
I had a trip to A&E in an ambulance as a result of landing on my head on that downhill hill track.
Hillend should be left as a snowsports attraction.
The attraction of the Pentlands to me is the number of routes over the wider range. Not one hillside. It's too mixed use.
As for their cuts, I'm torn. The cash for hillend would be a much needed cash injection to a tired facility. That same cash would probably be a drop in the ocean/sticking plaster to the council's issues.