Ski & Snowboard

For many people, the winter months are about feeling miserable, complaining about the weather, gaining weight and grinding out long hard days at work, which begin in darkness and end in darkness. True misery. However, many others look forward to the winter because they consider it to be the season for ultimate fun and adventure.

Indeed, winter sports have grown rapidly in popularity during the past couple of decades, with snowboarding and skiing among the most favourite. Other winter sports include ice skating, sledding, snowmobiling and, of course, having a snowball fight. Okay, perhaps the latter is not a sport per se but it is nonetheless good winter fun! In any case, winter sports appeal to a large number of people and that popularity is set to grow during the forthcoming years.

Among five of the very best skiing and snowboarding destinations in Europe is the Nevis Range in Scotland. Boasting the highest skiing in the country, the Nevis Range also includes a mountain gondola, which ascends to a dizzy 2150 feet and is worth a mention simply because of its accessibility to British winter sports enthusiasts.

However, for more serious and stylish skiing and snowboarding, look no further than the Cortina d`Ampezzo in Italy. Renowned as the leading resort in the country, it is also among the most expensive in Europe. Nevertheless, the price tag represents good value for money because this range has it all: amazing slopes, over 500 lifts, chic Italian women and Ferraris and Maseratis all over the place. Cortina d`Ampezzo offers good snow coverage, mild temperatures, superb shopping and can be easily accessed from Venice Airport. Accommodation in the area includes the four star Park Hotel Faloria, which is just minutes away from the Faloria ski resort.

The Chamonix resort in France is also about as good as it gets in Europe, featuring an unrivalled lift network and the Grands Montets, which comprises slopes of more than 10,000 feet! The Aiguille Verte is especially steep and certainly one for the brave. This is an excellent destination for advanced skiiers and snowboarders and is easily accessed by road and railway. Chamonix Lodges features a range of good quality chalets, lodges and hotels run by various operators.

Zermatt in Switzerland is also a superb winter sports destination, featuring a ridiculously steep 4,700 feet slope that actually ends in Cervinia, Italy! This awesome destination boasts superb scenery and a relaxed way of life – in fact, there are no cars allowed here, which means that railway is the only mode of transport in and out of the area!

Finally, The Arlberg in Austria represents everything that is great about winter sports. From the challenging Valluga summit slope to its wild nightlife, the area is also punctuated by picturesque towns and villages with a wide variety of places to stay. If you are thinking of making your way to one of the resorts highlighted above, ensure that you purchase the appropriate equipment and clothing in advance.