Hautacam

On the piste-map it might look limited, but the quality of what there is, coupled with the sensational scenery, mean that you can’t help liking this place. The terrain is laid out across two sectors - Cardouet and Naouit - divided by the Col de Tramassel. Naouit is an obvious target for confident skiers, and offers some nice Red-graded descents (plus a Blue) into the tree-line. Getting around means taking drag-lifts, for which your reward is some fine scenic cruising, particularly on Le Belvedère, a Green-graded run which allows even less-confident skiers to enjoy the panoramic views from the highest part of the mountain. Wide pistes and careful grooming complete the package.

You won’t be staying on the mountain, but from a base down in the spa town of Argelès-Gazost you can keep a watchful eye on the mountain which is home to the ski area. The drive up and down again doesn't take too long. It’s a year-round centre for tourism and its elegant assortment of privately constructed villas tells you that this has long been seen as a very desirable location. There’s a good selection of hotel accommodation, and while you might decide to give the casino a miss, the Jardin des Bains has undergone an ambitious redevelopment in response to the recent dramatic rise in popularity of the fun side of thermal spas (in addition to their traditional curative role).

Although clearly a gift for beginners, more capable skiers too will find some entertainment along the way, with sufficiently varied and unpressured terrain to allow them to refine and deploy their technique. If snow conditions are good, then family day-visitors - even those based in other ski areas nearby - will find the experience of skiing somewhere this small and friendly endearingly enjoyable. The mesmerising scenery will please back-to-nature skiers, who won’t bemoan the absence of new-generation high-speed lifts.

Cross-Country Skiing