The company than runs CairnGorm mountain ski area, which celebrated its most successful season in terms of snow cover consistency and visitor numbers for seven years when it finished its ski season earlier this month, is to be taken over by a public agency.

CairnGorm Mountain Ltd is believed to have debts of £6m and the move by Highlands and Islands Enterprise to take over operation of the facility is intended to secure the continued operation of the £20m funicular railway, which opened in 2001, largely funded by public money. Earlier this month debts owed by the ski area of £3m to local government bodies and government agencies were written off. Discussions over a further £3m owed to the bank are ongoing.

A spokeswoman for Highlands and Islands Enterprise told local media,

"In the face of a declining domestic ski market, CairnGorm Mountain Ltd has been hampered from pursuing plans to diversify its operations because of debt incurred through its investment in the railway.”

"We will be working closely with HIE management over the next few months, adapting the facility so it continues to secure interest from the wider market it serves in addition to winter sports."