Visa Tracker Book a Consultation UK Travel & Weekend Escapes Edinburgh’s Mountain Coaster: £8 and Genuinely Worth It Scotland’s first Alpine Coaster is a short bus ride from Waverley Station — and it belongs on your Edinburgh bucket list If you’re in Edinburgh and looking for something a bit different from castles and ... Edinburgh’s Mountain Coaster: £8 Minutes Away, and Genuinely Worth It
Scotland's first Alpine Coaster is a short bus ride from Waverley Station — and it belongs on your Edinburgh bucket list
If you're in Edinburgh and looking for something a bit different from castles and closes, this is it. A short bus ride out of the city takes you to the Pentland Hills, where Scotland's first Alpine Coaster lets you control your own speed down the mountainside. No experience needed, no long queues, and it's cheap enough to do on a whim.
The Midlothian Snowsports Centre in Hillend — better known to locals as the old Hillend Ski Centre — is home to Britain's longest dry ski slope and, since 2024, Scotland's first Alpine Coaster. It's a gravity-powered mountain coaster: you sit in a small individual cart on a fixed track that winds down the hillside, and unlike a rollercoaster, you're in control of your own speed the entire way down.
The ride includes a 360-degree helix section, drops around 74 metres in height, and is speed-limited to a maximum of 28mph for safety — though how close you get to that depends entirely on how much you brake. Including the ride back up the hill, the whole experience takes just over three minutes.
Whether you'd rather leave the driving to Lothian Buses or take your own car, both options are easy. Here's how each one works:
If you're short on time or travelling with a group and don't fancy either option, a taxi from the city centre takes around 15 minutes.
Midlothian Snowsports Centre strongly recommends booking in advance through their website or app — walk-in tickets are only available subject to capacity, especially on weekends.
Before you can ride, you'll need a wristband from reception — this is checked before you're allowed onto the coaster, so it's the first thing to sort on arrival.
You'll be shown how the brake lever works, then it's a short tow up the hill followed by the descent — controlled entirely by you.
If you enjoy the first run, tickets for three rides are usually better value than paying for single rides each time — worth checking current pricing when you book.
The on-site café has panoramic views over Edinburgh and the Pentland Hills — a good spot to sit with a coffee before heading back into the city.
Walk-ins are subject to availability — booking online guarantees your spot and your preferred time.
A single ride is priced at £8, with multi-ride tickets typically offering better value if you plan to go more than once. Check the official booking page for current prices, as these can change seasonally.
Without a car, take Lothian Bus 15 from Waverley Station or Bus 4 from Princes Street/Dalry Road — both run directly to Hillend and take roughly 45 minutes. Driving, exit the Edinburgh City Bypass (A720) at the Lothianburn junction and follow the A702 towards Biggar; the centre is about half a mile on the right, with free on-site parking.
It's strongly recommended. Walk-in tickets are only available subject to availability, and the ride can get busy on weekends and school holidays.
Yes — since you control your own speed with a brake lever, you can take it as gently or as fast as you're comfortable with. There's no set speed forced on you.
Yes — the centre also has Britain's longest dry ski slope, weekend snow tubing, a freestyle fun slope, and Café 360, which has panoramic views over Edinburgh.
