Our tips for a great
getaway in... Malaga Ski Spain
On the same line of latitude as the Middle East, Sierra Nevada is Europe's most southerly ski resort. Only a two-hour drive from the Costa del Sol, the resort towers majestically above the city of Granada, nestled among the highest mountains in mainland Spain. The season normally runs between December and April, but thanks to great snowfall already this year (including at least five dumpings by early autumn), it will open early. Starting on November 22, with 10 kilometres of piste, it promises to be a very good season!
bestrestaurant: Ruta del Veleta Take off those skies, rip off that thermal gear and head a few kilometres down the mountain to Granada's finest eaterie, Ruta del Veleta. Run by brothers José and Miguel Pedraza, this restaurant is a must for gourmands. Feast on succulent lamb baked with fresh herbs picked from the mountainside that very day, venison with foie gras or fresh fish baked in salt. Then treat yourself to warm, home-made chocolate served with porridge ice cream. Its wine cellar is among the very best in Andalucía. Where >Ruta de Veleta, Carretera Sierra Nevada, Cenes de la Vega Website > www.rutadelveleta.com
bestadvice: Get help from the British Ski Center Love the idea of careering down the 86-kilometres of piste in the Sierra Nevada, but don’t know your twin tips from your parallel turns? Then worry not. Giles Birch and Jonathan Buzzard from the British Ski Center at the ski resort are on hand to help. With prices starting at €38 per class and in a language you can understand, Señores Brown and Buzzard will soon have you bombing down those pistes like a regular Alberto Tomba. Where >British Ski Center, inside the Intersport Rio sports shop, Plaza de Andalucía, Pradollano, Sierra Nevada Website > www.britishskicenter.co.uk
bestalternatives to skiing: mountain biking, snowshoeing and trekking Tired of skiing? Bored of waiting in line at the chair lifts? Then why not spend a day taking a leisurely tour of the southern face of the Sierra Nevada on a mountain bike with Ride Tribe? Or how about snowshoeing or mountain treks? Outdoor pursuit company Spanish Highs can even organise thrilling Siberian husky-led treks in the Sierra Nevada. Mush mush! Where >Ride Tribe, Tel: +34 638 42 79 67, Spanish Highs, Tel: +34 660 013 445 Website > www.ride-tribe.com, www.spanishhighs.co.uk
bestwinter warmer: Lumumba Make like a local and order a lumumba; a warming mug of hot chocolate that contains more than a generous splash of brandy. It's the perfect companion to a chill winter's day, and will put more than a stride in your step as you head for the ski lifts in the morning. Try it for breakfast along with freshly prepared churros (filling and delicious, these are nothing more than thick strips of deep-fried batter) at Taberna El Cartujano on the ground floor of the Mont Blanc building. Where >Edificio Mont Blanc, local 3 (opposite Hotel Melia), Plaza Pradollano, Monachil, Sierra Nevada, Tel: +34 958 480 927
besthardcore skiing with a view: Velata For the more experienced skiers, how about an exhilirating head-long run from the peak of Veleta? The second highest peak in mainland Spain (after Mulhacen, which is in the same mountain range), Veleta towers over the Sierra Nevada ski resort. At almost 3,400 metres above sea level, its network of red and black runs is strictly for professionals. Accessed by the Zayas T-bar and the Laguna chairlift, do not miss the stunning views out to the Mediterranean sea and, on clear winter days, the coast of North Africa and the Rif mountains. Catching the afternoon sun transforming the sea to a blanket of gold is, perhaps, one of the most memorable sights you will take away with you from the Sierra Nevada. Where >The mountain of Veleta is located above the Sierra Nevada ski resort, just south of Granada in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, 90 minutes' drive from Malaga
Compiled by Mark Roulston
besttrivia
“You can ski in the morning and then sunbathe on the beach in the afternoon,” say the locals about skiing in the Sierra Nevada. And they’re not kidding! After a hard morning on the piste, why not head down to the pretty unspoilt coastal town of Salobreña. The snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains make for a dramatic backdrop as you lie on the golden sands while listening to the Mediterranean lap at the shore!
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