Once the warm summer weather ends in Spain, it’s as though a switch has been flicked. The days are still warm and pleasant, and the Costa del Sol still provides enough sunshine for beach visits and light clothing. Further inland, and higher up it gets a little colder, as the first layer of snow settles on the Sierra Nevada. Not many folk imagine sunny Spain to have snow, but the ski resort at Solynieve/Pradollano is one of the best in Europe, and is popular for a wide variety of winter sports.
Ski and sunbathe
The joy of a morning on the slopes and then an afternoon on the beach appeals to most of us and might just be the incentive for your next holiday in Spain. Stay in a well-appointed timeshare apartment down on the sunny Costa del Sol, and enjoy some thrilling winter sports as well. Sun, fun, and ski in the Sierra Nevada!
Choose your activity in the Sierra Nevada
Choose your own active holiday, whether you like to ski, snowshoe, snowboard, or just enjoy hanging out at altitude, having fun on the lower slopes with the whole family. As Europe’s most southerly ski resort, the Sierra Nevada provides a long ski season, we’ve just had the first snowfall this week, and the season will continue throughout winter and all the way into late April or early May, depending on the snowfall. Rain lower down on the foothills and on the Contraviesa means fresh white snow up there, and attracts adrenalin junkies and sports enthusiasts of all ages.
Going up…
The ski lifts are cranking into action, they manage to carry over forty-five thousand skiers every hour during peak season. There are more than 100 kilometres of ski areas, comprising of one hundred and fifteen runs. Depending on your level of skill, there are forty blue runs, fifty red runs, and sixteen green runs. There are also off-piste cross-country ski runs for the more adventurous skier. No wonder, then, that the Sierra Nevada was chosen in 1996 to host the Alpine World Ski Championships.
Borreguiles
A quarter of an hour by cable car connects Pradollano to the mid-level ski station of Borreguiles. This is where most come to enjoy a day’s skiing. There are lifts, schools if you need to brush up on your technique, or even if you’re a complete beginner. There’s also a handy creche for younger family members, who mare tire more easily of all the fun in the snow. There are several restaurants for energy refueling, and you can snack or enjoy a full meal. If you need to rent all the gear you can also do this at Borreguiles.
Then, back down mountain you can slowly wind afterward, for an evening back in your splendid accommodation on the sunny Costa del Sol, refreshed and ready for a day or two more under the warm Spanish sunshine.