It's easy to forget on dreary grey days that the outdoors are worth exploring in this country. Sure, it rains a lot and you might need to put on some gloves, but we’ve got some stunning scenery that deserves to be appreciated. And what better way to appreciate it than soaring through Lothian on a two-seater alpine coaster?
In a magical land, far away (a snowsports centre just outside of Edinburgh) a brand new manual rollercoaster has been built, big enough to fit one or two people at a time. You’ll be carried along 600m of track to the bottom of the mountain at speeds of up to 28mph, which feels like quite a lot when it’s just you’re zooming on a single, slightly treacherous railway.
You may be wondering what an ‘alpine coaster’ actually is, and that’s a fair question. We don’t get many of them round these parts, in fact this one is due to be the first ever in Scotland. For the uninitiated, they’re sort of like a cross between a rollercoaster and a skateboard, using the natural landscape to propel themselves instead of electric tracks. You sit in a bobsled-like contraption and skate down a hill, with a manual brake so that you can control the speed you go at. They originate from the Swiss alps, hence the name.
Scotland's first alpine coaster is due to open at Midlothian Snowsports Centre at Hillend later in the year.
— BBC Scotland News (@BBCScotlandNews) August 17, 2024
It is 980m (1,072 yards) long and has a vertical drop of 170m (558ft).
Read more here ➡️ https://t.co/sSbD9vmqUj pic.twitter.com/gZ4ZKheDeL
And the Scottish edition is due to open at the Midlothian Snowsports Centre in Hillhead, a few minutes from Edinburgh, sometime later this year, perfect timing for an autumnal excursion. When it does open you’ll be able to book your tickets here.
Getting (Time) Out and About
Trees aren’t the only thing to appreciate in the British countryside. Have you ever tried any of these campsites, or these stunning hikes? We’ve also got roundups of our favourite natural wonders that the UK has to offer, as well as some lovely places to go wild swimming (sans the sewage). We've also got guides for outdoor thrill seekers (as if the coaster wasn't enough).
Did you see that these are all the shortlisted trees for Tree of the Year 2024?
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