SCOTLAND'S first-ever alpine coaster ride is set to open this weekend and people might be wondering how they can get tickets for it.

Located at the Midlothian Snowsports Centre in Hillend, it is the longest of its kind in the UK, at 980 metres of uphill and downhill track.

Riders can reach up to 28 miles per hour and there are expectations that it will attract up to 150,000 visitors per year.

It will officially open to the public on Saturday, September 14 after an unveiling ceremony on Wednesday, September 11.

Midlothian council leader Kelly Parry cut the ribbon to officially open the ride and joked that "it’s a tough job" as she got to be one of the first people to go on it.

Cllr Parry said afterwards: “It was thrilling – fantastic fun and a real adrenaline rush.

“I’m here today, not just to mark the opening and enjoy the ride, but also with many of the project team who helped make the Alpine Coaster possible.

"It’s a thank you to everyone’s hard work but also the chance for us to be willing ‘guinea pigs’ so staff can test out procedures around aspects such as getting people onboard safely in a set time frame."

How to get tickets for Scotland's first-ever Alpine Coaster ride

Bookings for the Alpine Coaster have been available to make since Wednesday, September 11 and can be sorted on the website here.

Alternatively, people can download the Midlothian Sport & Leisure app on both Google and Apple devices to make bookings.

Their website adds: "Download our new sport and leisure app and select club as 'Snowsports' to book and manage your bookings."

Slots are available up to seven days in advance, with it costing £7 for a single ticket and £19 for three rides.

Including the ascent, the ride is just over three minutes long.

Scotland Alpine Coaster opening times

The Alpine Coaster will be open between 10am and 5.30pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

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Scotland Alpine Coast restrictions

Anyone wanting to use the Alpine Coaster on their own must be over the age of nine years old and be at least 1.4 metres (four feet, five inches) tall.

The website adds: "Children must be four years or over to ride the Alpine Coaster. Children aged between four and eight years old must be accompanied by an older person who is aged over 9 years and over 1.4m tall."

Meanwhile, the maximum weight in each cart should not exceed 145kg (22 stone, 8lbs).