THE Cairngorms will get the "jewel in its crown" after the Scottish Government pledged more than £20 million to reopen the national park's funicular railway.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said the cash will be used to make the Highland attraction a "destination people can enjoy all year round".

The bulk of the money - £16m - will be spent on repairing Scotland's only funicular railway, which has been closed since September 2018, with the work expected to bring it back into service during the winter of 2021-22.

Ewing said a business case from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) was clear that repairing the funicular railway was the "preferred option", with the cost of removing the structure estimated to be about £17m.

The minister added: "The funicular will not only transport thousands of annual visitors up Cairngorm again next winter, it will also bring access to the mountain environment to a broad range of visitors, including children, older people and people with disabilities."

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Initial work to strengthen the 1.2-mile structure should now begin later this month.

The funicular is expected to attract thousands of visitors a year when it reopens, generating benefits for the wider economy in the Badenoch and Strathspey area where the tourism and hospitality sectors have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

The remaining £4.35m of funding - which is coming from the Scottish Government and HIE - will be used for additional improvements like the electrification of snow cannons and the upgrading of existing tow infrastructure, paths and car parking.

Ewing said: "We want to unlock the full potential of Cairngorm to make it a destination people can enjoy all year round, and this significant investment couldn't come at a better time.

"We know our tourism and hospitality sectors have been among the hardest hit by the pandemic and in Badenoch and Strathspey a quarter of the workforce is in the accommodation and food services sectors - more than double the proportion for the Highlands and islands as a whole.

"By investing in the mountain we can generate significant economic benefits for the local area and our tourism sector."

HIE chief executive Charlotte Wright said: "Cairngorm is more than a mountain. It's at the heart of the community and a key driver of the local economy, providing high-quality jobs and supporting the wider tourism sector in Strathspey and Badenoch.

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"Today's announcement signals the importance of the Cairngorm estate as a national asset for Scotland, with its potential as a mountain resort alongside its unique natural habitats.

"This investment will ensure it is ready to welcome thousands of visitors in all seasons of the year."

Highland Council convener Bill Lobban said: "The economic importance of the decision today and the spin off to the local community it provides cannot be understated.

"The Cairngorms are one of Scotland's most iconic locations and this announcement today provides us with a unique opportunity to lay firm foundations for a co-ordinated and strategic approach to managing this jewel in the Cairngorms National Park's crown for generations to come."