Visitors are to be given the chance to walk on the summit of Cairngorm Mountain - the UK's sixth highest peak - as part of a guided walk to be trialled until 31 October.

Walk @ The Top will offer a 90-minute guided walk following a circular route around the summit starting and ending at the Ptarmigan funicular railway station, with groups comprising up to 10 people. It is the first time that visitors will have the chance to venture outside of the ski area, with Cairngorm providing a home to a range of plant and wildlife species not normally associated with the UK.

Cairngorm Mountain Ltd has been granted permission to conduct the trial from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and The Highland Council (THC), with the area protected under European and UK law. A Cairngorm Mountain spokesperson said: "The trial concludes on 31 October 2010, when the mountain railway operators will report back to SNH and THC. All being well the report will conclude that the managed programme did not impact the heart of the National Park in a negative way."