IF the proposed gondola for the Mourne Mountains goes ahead then it will join a small group of places to host such a mode of transport. Among that group is the Llandudno cable car in Wales, the Nevis Range gondola, and the cable car at the Heights of Abraham in Derbyshire. The Heights of Abraham cable car is at Matlock Bath and takes holidaymakers to the Heights of Abraham site where they can enjoy a cavern tour, see exhibitions and have a meal at the restaurant or café. The distance the cable car travels along is 1,136m and it travels from the base station to the hilltop, which is a height of 169 metres. It is powered by an electric motor, and the cable car offers views of the Derwent Valley and Massey Hill.
In order to find out how the gondola was received, the Mourne Observer asked some newspaper reporters to give their thoughts on the positives and negatives of the facility. Phil Bramley is the editor of the Derbyshire Times. He explained: “Although it has practical implications, taking visitors to the top of the cliffs, the cable car ride has become something of an attraction in itself and offers great views of the valley. “It has definitely helped Matlock Bath’s visitor economy as both another attraction to bring tourists in and a fairly unique asset which few other places have.” Another reporter from the Derbyshire area who responded to our questions was Joseph Ash who covers the Peak District and North Derbyshire for the Derby Telegraph and Derbyshire Live.
He explained that he has not heard any negatives about the cable car. “I have not been contacted by any locals/visitors with anything negative to say about the attraction, and considering it has consistently been open now for decades I think it must generate a good, sustainable income,” he said. “The attraction isn’t just the cable cars but what else you can do at the Heights of Abraham, such as cave shows and exhibitions which make the ticket price worthwhile.” As well as the cable car at Matlock Bath, there is a gondola at Aonach Mór in Scotland, which is the eighth highest mountain in the UK. It is operated by the Nevis Range company and they describe theirs as the only mountain gondola in the UK. It reaches a height of 650m and is used by skiers but also mountain climbers, mountain bikers and paragliders. The gondola transports visitors from 100m to 650m up the mountain, along a 2.3km route, and the ride takes approximately 15 minutes each way. The Doppelmayr Gondola system comprises of 80 six-seat closed cabins running on a continuous 4.6km steel cable weighing 40 tonnes. The Mourne Observer asked Mark Gibbings, commercial manager for Lochaber Chamber of Commerce, what positives or negatives there have been from having the gondola.
He said: “From our perspective as the hosts of the Outdoor Capital of the UK destination organisation, having an asset like the UK’s only mountain gondola at Nevis Range is incredible, it provides a focal point for visitors to Lochaber, the Scottish Highlands and Scotland, combining adventure, experiencing something special by taking a gondola ride and having the ability to access the mountain range in relative comfort and relative ease! “The gondola is incredibly popular with visitors and locals who use this valuable asset (of course it does close for essential maintenance, like anything mechanical). Businesses and outdoor adventure businesses sponsor the gondola cabs as well and you can see examples of that in destination imagery.” In Wales you can find the Llandudno cable cars service, which was opened in 1969. They regard it as the longest passenger cable car system in Britain. The owners and operators believe that the facility is ‘a unique experience that continues to be one of town’s most popular attractions’. The Llandudno cable cars travel 679 feet from Happy Valley up to the summit of Great Orme. The distance travelled is just over a mile. The cable cars provide an opportunity for people to go and explore the top of the mountain, and they can enjoy hospitality in the visitor centre, restaurant, bars and adventure golf course. The Mourne Observer got in touch with a local walking group called the Conwy Valley Ramblers, and asked them if there were any positives or negatives that they could share about the cable cars.
A response came from Kevin Slattery, who is the chairperson of the group. He said the ramblers prefer to walk up the mountain, but he did have some opinions about the cars. “It is very popular amongst holiday makers, with long queues developing on warm sunny days (and then the adjacent cafe does a good trade in ice creams!) “Up to last year, at least, they only take cash because the signal isn’t clear for card payments. “It gives great views over the surrounding areas, of course; though it is closed if it is a very windy day. “The cars going up pass the cars going down, and vice versa, so as there are no windows, passengers (such as my grandchildren) often have fun calling greetings across to the opposite car and seeing who replies – most people, however, just like to sit back and enjoy the views!” If you have used any cable cars in Britain or other parts of the world please let us know what your thoughts are and whether you think the proposed gondola for Newcastle will be a success. You can get in touch with Ronan via email, ronan@mourneobserver.com