Destination Hillend

Multi-activity centre planned

Destination Hillend

The council is building a year-round, family-orientated, multi-activity leisure attraction to improve and safeguard the future of Midlothian Snowsports Centre.

What we will offer

The centre will remain open during the phased development, which will include:

• Freestyle Slope (open)
• Scotland's first Alpine Coaster (due to open 2024)
• New A702 junction (due to complete in 2024)
• Infrastructure upgrades - additional car parking and upgrading access road to two lanes (due to complete 2024)
• New reception building for the Snowsports Centre 
• Soft play and indoor climbing 
• Associated retail space

Alpine Coaster information

Overall length of the coaster is 980 metres (315 metres uphill & 667 metres downhill) this is the equivalent of Beinn a' Chochuill
The coaster is interactive as the riders can control their deceleration.
The vertical drop will be approximately 170 metres.
The coaster ride includes a 360degree helix.
The maximum speed is regulated to 28mph

Benefits of the project:

• Creates the opportunity for Midlothian to have a national tourist attraction, with total visitor numbers expected to rise from 139,000 to an estimated 485,000 annually.
• Destination Hillend is forecast to make a net contribution of over £1m a year to the council’s revenue budget when fully open. This will pay for vital council services.
• Estimated annual employment figures are 150 full-time equivalent jobs (ftes) during the construction period and between 106.9  and157.9 ftes once the building is fully open.
• Direct income to the local economy is £3.6m per annum during construction and between  £2.6 and  £3.8m per annum once the development is fully up and running.
• Access from the A702 will be significantly improved thanks to a new, improved junction, which will include a pedestrian crossing.
• Public transport buses will be able to drop passengers outside the Destination Hillend entrance.
• Car parking spaces will go up from 160 spaces to 385 spaces. There will be dedicated staff spaces and coach parking.
• The new junction is enabling infrastructure for potential future hotel and the Pentland bike trail centre on neighbouring sites, contributing to the creation of a tourism hub at this location.
• Destination Hillend will continue to provide additional education and long-life learning opportunities for schools and community groups throughout Midlothian and the wider city region area.

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