The SNO!zone slope at Breahead

The new owners of a Clydeside indoor ski slope have pledged to set up an ice-climbing wall and improve the facilities.

The Ice Factor has taken over the SNO!zone at Xscape in Renfrewshire and says it will invest in the £32m facility, said to be the longest indoor ski slope in Britain.

The owners of the Kinlochleven centre already operate the world’s largest indoor ice-climbing wall and said they also intend to open another indoor ice wall in Inverness in the future.

West coast climber Jamie Smith, group managing director of Ice Factor International, said: “We are absolutely delighted to make this important acquisition and are excited at the opportunity to improve the experience for existing and new customers.

“Among our plans is the creation of an indoor ice climbing wall and the upgrading of the existing facilities and to embed its position as the sixth ski resort in Scotland.”

Ian Syke, chairman of the Ice Factor Group and one of the original founders of Nevisport and the Nevis Range ski area in Lochaber, added: “This is a great opportunity for Scottish skiing.

“SNO!zone has already created 147,000 new skiers and snowboarders. Within the next few years it is our intention to open a new ice-climbing centre in Inverness and plans are already in an advanced state for a similar facility at Burlington, Vermont in the USA.”

Work has already started at Braehead where there will be only small changes until after the end of the current ski season.