The Nevis Range Mountain Experience, Scotland’s highest snowsports destination and year-round mountain resort, seven miles from Fort William, are very pleased to announce that they have invested at least £1 million in the infrastructure for their ski and snowboard offering to snowsport enthusiasts ahead of the 2019/20 winter season.
The investment, which includes a bespoke snowmaking plant, an expanded beginners’ ski area serviced by a new travellator conveyor lift and improved snow fencing over the whole mountain, will guarantee both season-long ski and snowboard facilities for beginners’ lessons and excellent snow conditions for families from December 2019, and for years to come.
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The Nevis Range snowmaking plant was specially designed by Recom Ice Systems, a Dutch manufacturer of flake ice plants for the fishing industry; and manufactured in China. It is capable of producing up to 155 tons of flake ice in a 24-hour period and enough snow to cover an area of 150m by 50m to a depth of 300cm in 14 days.
The snowmaking farm will combine with two snow canons to push the snow out to the dedicated beginners’ area that has doubled in size to approximately 100 square metres and conveniently situated less than 15 metres from the Gondola Top Station. The beginner area has also seen new snow fences erected to help catch any natural snow and keep the newly farmed snow in place
Chris O’Brien, CEO at Nevis Range, said: “We have invested heavily into snowsports at Nevis Range in order to guarantee excellent conditions for skiers and snowboarders in our beginners’ area all season long.
“With no road access to the Top Gondola Station, I’m immensely proud of how hard the team have worked, in order to get our snowmaking plant and new beginners area completed in time, not just for this season but also to secure incredible winter sports facilities for years to come. It’s an incredibly exciting time at Nevis Range and we are looking forward to welcoming our snowsports enthusiasts in December. Watch this space for more exciting news to announce very soon!”
Enhancing and developing the uplift infrastructure and access to the slopes for all snowsport visitors has been another major project undertaken by the Nevis Range engineering team. A new 80 metre long travellator ‘magic carpet’ style conveyor lift, serving the beginners’ area, has been installed, adding to the significant improvements to the beginner experience on the mountain whilst providing easier access to some of the lower mountain lifts for the more experienced skiers and snowboarders.
New larch ‘ranch style’ snow fencing has replaced tired chestnut paling on many of the mountain slopes. The new fences are bigger, higher and stronger, not only providing fuller and more reliable runs for skiers and snowboarders, but also improving access for piste machines and catching more snow for them to distribute on to the ski slopes.
This year the resort has also made massive investments into current lift infrastructure above and beyond normal maintenance procedures. This has included an overhaul of the Goose T-Bar return bull wheel. The Summit button tow has also been shortened and a new brake system added.
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Media contact:
Paddy Cuthbert | Littlehouse Media | E: [email protected]| M: 07913 951717 | 0131 526 3980
Notes to Editors:
Nevis Range Website – http://www.nevisrange.co.uk/
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Snowmaking Plant
Design of flake ice machine by Recom Ice Systems, a Dutch manufacturer of flake ice plants for the fishing industry. The technology used in the Nevis Range plant originated from the fishing industry.
Refrigeration by Clover Technical Services Ltd.
A chemical free system.
Water for the snowmaking plant comes from Nevis Range’s dam on the upper mountain. The plant uses significantly less water than snow guns to produce snow.
155 tons of ice produced per 24h hour period.
A beginner run of 150m x 50m at a depth of 300cm will take approximately 14 days to make.
2 T40 snow canons from Techno Alpin will be used in conjunction with the flake ice machine to distribute the snow.
Conveyor Lift
Manufacturer/Model – Compac 88
The building housing the snowmaking plant
Building design by BHC ltd.
Steel erection/construction by Nethy Steel.
Plumbing by Morrison Plumbing and Heating Engineers.
Electric assistance by Hugh Fitzsimons and Son.
Power provided by SSE.
Civils/Groundworks for all works by Hitrak
All work has been assisted by Nevis Range staff throughout this infrastructure project.
Nevis Range
Nevis Range is a visitor attraction located north of Fort William and south of Spean Bridge. The Mountain Gondolas transport visitors, Skiers & Snowboarders and Mountain Bikers to 650m on the slopes of Aonach Mor. There are 74 Gondolas in total and each one takes up to 6 adults. http://www.nevisrange.co.uk/
Nevis Range Mountain Experience is a year-round mountain resort comprising …
- All year-round mountain gondola visitor attraction
- Winter snowsports area with equipment hire and Snowsports School.
- All year-round mountain biking with 48km of cross-country mountain biking, as well as a cross country and downhill mountain bike trails with gondola access. Home to a round of the Mountain Bike World Cup
- High Wire Adventure high ropes courses
- Self-service Snowgoose restaurant & bar (gondola top station) and Pinemarten café bar (gondola base station) serving locally served produce prepared on site.
- Mountain walks to scenic viewpoints
- Forest walks
- Gift shop
