Landmark Forest Adventure Park in Carrbridge is progressing work on a new £500,000 forest adventure zone, led by a six-lane toboggan run-style attraction due to open later this summer. The development is positioned as the first experience of its kind in Scotland and is expected to bring an additional 10,000 visitors to the park over the next 12 months.
For operators, designers and suppliers working in the attractions sector, the project offers a clear example of continued capital investment in nature-based leisure. Built within Landmark’s ancient pinewood forest setting, the attraction has been designed and constructed by the park’s in-house team over an 18-month period.
The new toboggan run will allow up to six participants to race through a series of open-air and covered lanes. Suitable for adults and children aged four and above, subject to height restrictions, the attraction is expected to support high throughput during the peak summer period. Landmark anticipates that up to 45,000 people could use the ride during July and August alone.
Expanding The Visitor Offer
The toboggan run will sit within a wider adventure zone that includes an accessibility roundabout, a sand pit designed for all abilities, a climbing frame, a hexagonal swing, an obstacle course, musical instruments, and bouncing pillows. This broader mix shows how anchor rides can be supported by secondary play features to increase dwell time, spread capacity and widen appeal across age groups.
For family attractions, this type of development reflects the importance of layered provision. A headline ride can drive marketing impact, while supporting play and access features create a fuller visitor proposition. The inclusion of facilities suitable for all abilities also demonstrates how accessibility is becoming a core planning consideration in new attraction zones, rather than a later addition.
Landmark already attracts around 170,000 visitors each year and supports more than 100 local jobs during peak season. Established in 1970, the park has built a broad offer across more than 22 indoor and outdoor attractions, including Dinosaur Kingdom, Butterfly House, climbing activities and Wild Water Coasters.
Regional Tourism And Long-Term Reinvestment
The new attraction forms part of a longer reinvestment programme at Landmark. Over the past five years, the park’s owners have invested a further £2 million into visitor experiences, including Red Squirrel Trail, Ancient Forest Twi-LIGHTS, Ancient Forest Adventure tree top trail and NetworX aerial net adventure.
The latest project has received support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, with independent analysis suggesting the new development could generate over £1.5 million for the Highland economy within 12 months. For the wider visitor economy, this underlines the role of established independent attractions in drawing footfall, supporting jobs and contributing to regional destination strength.
Landmark’s management has linked the investment to the park’s long-term focus on family tourism and its position within the Cairngorms visitor offer. Highlands and Islands Enterprise has also identified the project as a step that can support employment in Badenoch and Strathspey while adding to the area’s tourism product.
The park’s 30-acre site, with over half of its area dedicated to woodland trails, gives the development a clear setting-led identity. Landmark has also stated that climate action remains a priority as it considers how to reduce emissions while maintaining the appeal of its attraction mix.
For the attractions industry, the project highlights the commercial value of reinvestment, in-house technical capability and close alignment between setting, ride design and regional tourism strategy.
