Winter wonderlands
Go skiing in Scotland or seize the chance for a getaway in Europe, says Chris Carter
Skiing in Europe this winter is still just about possible, despite France’s ban on British tourists entering the country.
But what with the costs and the hassle of making sure you have taken the right coronavirus tests and downloaded the right apps, only to be told your flights have been cancelled, your hotel closed or that your destination has gone into lockdown, you might think it is easier to stay in Britain.
But that doesn’t have to mean hanging up your skis.
Last week, the pistes in Scotland opened for the first time this season. There are five main resorts, says Gemma Bowes in The Guardian. The best snow usually comes in January, but all five can make artificial snow. If you can, go last-minute when you know snow is coming, and better still, mid-week when the slopes are quieter. And be sure to check the resorts’ websites for updates and bookings.
Nevis Range is Scotland’s highest resort. It arguably has the widest variety of terrain, says Bowes, with 35 runs and 12 lifts, along with an off-piste area for expert skiers (day passes cost £37.50 for adults and £24.50 for children, nevisrange.co.uk).
Glenshee has the biggest ski area, with 36 runs and 21 lifts (£32/£21, ski-glenshee.co.uk).
Cairngorm Mountain has 31 runs and 11 lifts, plus three snow parks with jumps (£35/£22, cairngormmountain.co.uk).
Glencoe Mountain Resort, which claims to have the
longest and steepest pistes, has 20 runs and nine lifts. It also has wooden cabins that sleep up to four from £65( £27-£35/£20-£22,
glencoemountain.co.uk). The Lecht Ski Centre is the smallest of the five, with 20 runs and 13 lifts (£32/£16-£21, lecht.co.uk).
All five resorts form a rough 300-mile ring between Perth and Inverness, so it is possible to hit the road and visit them all. Or you can simply book a tour, says Boudicca FoxLeonard in The Daily Telegraph. Wilderness Scotland has put together a five-day package of skiing in the Highlands.
Under the direction of your “ski host”, the itinerary first takes in Glenshee, with its three valleys. The furthest, Glas Maol, offers great on- and off-piste skiing, including the “challenging” West Wall for experienced skiers, while the Tiger run on the Cairnwell mountain is “one of Scotland’s most famous pistes”. If the weather is good, visits to
Cairngorm and the Lecht are also possible. If not, Cairngorms National Park is waiting to be explored nearby. After that, it’s over to the West Highlands to ski Nevis Range and Glencoe. From £885 per person based on a group of four, wildernessscotland.com
Three European escapes
Heimeli is a little mountain refuge at the top of the remote Sapün valley in Graubünden, Switzerland, says Eric Kendall in the Financial Times. Its name roughly translates as “cosy little home”. It is so cosy, it is worth visiting even if you have
no intention of skiing or donning snowshoes to explore the peaks. There are four double and two family rooms, and an “Alpenesuite” with two rooms and a bathroom. For couples, there is even a tiny and romantic standalone wooden cabin, called the Maiensäss, which is as “cute as a button” and comes with logs for the stove. From CHF190 (£155) per night, heimeli.swiss
The “oasis-like five-star eco-friendly” Forsthofgut Hotel in Austria is a resort
for grown-ups that is child-friendly at heart, says Carol Driver for the Daily
Mail. You can relax in the steamy, bathtub-temperature outdoor pools and admire the surrounding “imposing” white-tipped Leogang mountains. Inside is traditional chalet-style throughout, with roaring fires and comfy sofas. The Alpine family suite has a “spacious double bedroom with oakwood flooring, and a stylish lounge area that opens up onto a balcony affording us breathtaking views”. The hotel couldn’t be better placed for the slopes. With 170 miles of pistes, Leogang is one of the largest ski areas in Austria. From £191 per night, forsthofgut.at
France is off limits to
Brits for now, but once it reopens Club Med will be hoping you set aside “cosy” or “traditional” for its new 465room behemoth with pool, gym, spa, kids’ club, rental centre, bar, theatrical stage and two restaurants in La Rosière, says Sean Newsom in The Times. “I was impressed” – it’s ideal for young families. After all, “there’s nothing quite like hoicking a three-year-old up and down an Alpine village to convince you of the benefit of on-site childcare”. And you can be off skiing in an instant thanks to the hotel being built into the slopes. La Rosière is the “cute, underdeveloped resort” on the northern side of the Tarentaise Valley, and the slopes “are a good fit for such a family-friendly operation”. Seven nights from £1,600 per person, clubmed.co.uk
“Forsthofgut Hotel in Austria is a five-star, ecofriendly oasis”
A serious trinket
The 2022 Rave snowmobile from Finnish brand Lynx likes nothing better than to dive into the action, says Cristian Curmei for Autoevolution. Its redesigned rear and front suspension system should be able to absorb any shocks you throw at it, while the narrower and lighter Blade XC+ skis make for a more stable ride than the Rave’s predecessors. Its Radien frame makes for easy manoeuvring thanks to the optimal weight distribution, helping you to “throw this sucker around”. The power comes from a 600R E-TEC liquid-cooled engine running on two cylinders. “If you ever get onto one of these machines, you’d better know what you’re doing, as the 2022 Rave is a serious trinket.”
From around €15,500, see snowmobilescotland.co.uk for UK buying options
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