Reach a peak

IT'S time to get your thermals on as this year's ski season gets under way - follow this essential guide to the best slopes.

Bansko, Bulgaria
THE hysteria surrounding the predictions of thousands of headscarfed Bulgarians flooding our shores in the next few months has masked one rather important fact - Bulgaria is on the slow climb to prosperity itself, thank you very much. Even though it may not always have been a luxurious destination, or easy to reach, the British have been visiting the country for many years, lured by inexpensive family holidays.

That's all changing, though, particularly when it comes to skiing. Skiers have been used to lengthy transfers to reach the slopes in the past, but there are plans to build an airport within the next five years close to Bansko, at the base of the Pirin mountains. Apart from its idyllic setting, this could prove to be one of its greatest selling points.

The current airports are at Sofia or Plovdiv, both 100 miles from the village. With at least two hours' driving from each, a dedicated airport would give Bansko a distinct advantage.

It isn't the resort for flashy skiers or those looking to up their bravery levels, since only one run is rated as difficult. But it has many intermediate routes and the long runs may challenge advanced skiers, as they have been purpose-built for competitive skiing. With reasonable prices and a late season (from December to April), Bansko offers a good-value family skiing experience.

Away from the slopes, Bansko is everything a mountain village should be, with winding cobbled streets and traditional taverns. Food and drink are plentiful and cheap. Our group of 12 had two courses with beer, wine and the local rakia liqueur for around £110. In the Dedo Pene inn, the traditional Bansko breakfast of bread cooked in egg and served with homemade honey and jam is fuel for a full day on the slopes. Eating is an occasion here. It's social and can take, well, as long as you want. When ordering lamb means roasting a whole animal on a spit, it's time to stop watching the clock.

Bansko has recently been voted Europe's most improved ski resort in the 2006 Great Skiing and Snowboarding Guide awards, and a halt has been called on any further construction - lessons have been learned from other resorts, and preserving the village is important.

It's worth making the effort to see Bansko now. Once an airport is built, you may be at the back of some rather long lift queues.

Invest in a holiday home in Bansko

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