Just back from a short tour of the Cairngorms this half term. Ski blogs all over the place reporting poor snow conditions in Europe but spare a thought for UK bound skiers, it was rough!

Glenshee had all its piste open but hard as iron in the morning and a slush fest after lunch. We still managed to cover 30 kilometers of piste on our first day though so must not complain to loudly. Cairngorm mountain in roughly the same shape but extremely windy, wild windy in fact. For best snow in europe at the momen try this article

Just read a very nice blog with good pictures and Video of an early season ski trip in Cervinia. (2008/09 season) A while a go but never the less puts Cervinia in the frame for an early season trip rather than just a late sunny one ?

Blog here

Looking at the list of suggested romantic resorts for Valentines day I would really recommend some of the smaller Austrian resorts, their atmosphere and charm is unsurpassed. Take a look at Brand in particular. If you don’t fancy Austria then my fall back position would be the pearl of the Alps, Saas-fee. A wonderful intimate village, authentic and picture post card pretty at the same time.

The Crystal blog has a good article with some romantic suggestions for resorts as well. Check out the Austrian village with the heart shaped wood

Romantic ideas for this years Valentine’s weekend

Just back from Saas fee after a week of sunny mid winter skiing. Very lucky with the snow and weather, it was crisp and cold, with bright bright sun.

A  fifty centimetre dump of snow on Christmas eve was just in time to be groomed for our arrival in the village on boxing day. The skiing was perfect for us, nice and lazy, nice and easy and the village surpassed expectations. Picture perfect .

Maybe a sign that we are getting old now; most memorable part of the holiday was a gorgeous walk following the ‘Chapel Trail’, down to Saas-grund in the valley below Saas-fee. We decided to rest our aching knees and take  a morning off skiing. Well worth it

Chapel trail from Saas-fee

Winter wonderland. Following the path linking chapels depicting the stations of the cross

We think this was the gray chapel but we might be a little lost at this point

An early start saw us back in the village just before lunch, giving us enough time to have a cheeky gluhwein in one of the central bars (on the bridge just before the main nursery slope area – forgot its name..) and be on ski’s heading up the mountain for a wonderful afternoons skiing. Days don’t come any better.

Heading up the Felskin to Morenia, lunch and some very gentle cruising

Top of the fantastic red out of the lift system at Passo Tonale. Easily the best run, more enjoyable than the black down from the glacier. (Which is also very good)

Putting aside the small matter of a volcano, some ash and a £800 car rental bill had a great time in the val di sole over Easter.

Madonna di Campiglio was a little bare of snow in the village but both sides of the valley had plenty of skiing.

Tonale however was a revelation and much better than expected.  Snow almost all the way down to Ponte di legno and the whole valley open. Best run of the week ? Got to be the red below Cime Bleis, fantastic run amid amazing scenery.

Above Cervina looking across to the Aosta valley

Great Febuary trip along the Aosta valley resorts and then a week in Cervinia with a few days across the border in Zermatt.

Half-term saw Cervinia in super sunny mode and some fabulous blue and easy red crusing.