New ski area plan for Scotland

SCOTLAND is to get its sixth ski centre - only around 50 miles from the English border and not far from the M74.

Lowther Hills Ski Club in Dumfriesshire is planning a 600m tow to an altitude of 725m to create an intermediate run, and two 100m lifts to serve separate nursery slopes, all above a club house at 585m.

The hill near Wanlockhead, Britain’s highest village – a contender for Scotland’s first commercial ski centre back in 1952 – is likely to have enough snow and volunteers for around 20 days’ skiing each winter on average and the club hope to have the centre up and running by December.

“My vision is to have a New-Zealand-style, low-cost centre with a few tows, snow-grooming and curling facilities,” said club chair Anjo Abelaira, who also asked for volunteers at www.skiclub.lowtherhills.com