The UK’s highest campervan park is being lined up at Cairngorm Mountain, with hopes it will generate much-needed funds for the resort and help alleviate summer gridlock in the wider area.

The application is for 66 bays for motorhomes and campervans at Coire na Ciste car park, and has been called in by the CNPA’s planning service for determination.

Motorhomes are already returning to the area in large numbers following the lifting of Covid travel restrictions across Scotland on Friday.

The application by Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland) Ltd (CMSL)is for the reconfiguration of existing car park and infrastructure for overnight facilities, including an underground chemical tank, recycling and litter point, as well as gate and perimeter fence.

Some car parking will be retained for 56 vehicles for hill-goers.

CMSL’s operations manager Colin Matthew said: “Staff have been working with colleagues at the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) on this project, and we very much hope to be in a position to provide this new product in early summer 2021.

“Dependent upon demand, along with our visitor management plan, we will be considering how best to develop the facility over time.”

Resort figures highlight the huge growth in campervans and motorhomes using the three resort car parks – Coire Cas, Coire na Ciste and the Sugarbowl.

Last August – the first full month after lockdown – there were 853 recorded overnight stays, and the figure was 705 for September compared to 191 and 108 for the same two months in 2015.

The combined 2020 total was 2739 vehicles, and includes three-and-a-half months when they were no stays from mid-March due to the Covid lockdown.

The 2015 annual total was just 854 campervans and motorhomes.

Overnight stays are currently on an informal basis by donations.