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Winter Walking & Snow-Shoeing

If you're reading this, the chances are you've never taken a holiday in the snow before and remain unconvinced as to its pleasures. It may seem obvious, but the first thing you should do is banish from your mind all thoughts of a typical British winter – how things can very quickly grind to halt with the appearance of the first snowflake, and how it all turns to brown slush within a matter of hours anyway. In the Alps and Scandinavia, snow is very much part of life and the infrastructure is designed for it. Your plane will be able to land on a cleared runway, your train will run according to schedule, and your taxi will be waiting at the station to collect you.

The second thing is to remember that snow is not just for skiers. Arguably, there has never been a better time for non-skiers, with more and more villages offering an ever wider selection of other activities, none of which require much skill, if any at all. If you've ever donned a pair of walking boots in summer, you can go winter walking – it's as easy as that, and that's probably where the main appeal lies. Unlike skiing, you don't need any great sense of balance and several lessons before you can strike out on your own, and nor do you need any special or expensive clothing, another big plus. Just your normal waterproof walking boots, a hat, gloves, winter-weight walking trousers (perhaps with some long johns underneath if you're worried about feeling the cold, though you should find that you generate quite a bit of heat once you get started), and several layers on your top half that you can peel off or pile back on as you go along. You walk along specially prepared paths flattened by a machine, so there is no risk of suddenly finding yourself knee-deep in a snowdrift – or of losing your way, either. If you're worried about skiers whizzing past you every few minutes, rest assured that these paths are usually separate to the cross-country ski trails, and certainly well away from any downhill pistes.

Snow-shoeing is a little different in that it does take a few minutes to adjust to the stride, but again there's no skill involved – all you need do is walk with your feet slightly wider apart than normal. Of course, you do need some special equipment, but nothing more than a pair of snow-shoes (which attach to your normal walking boots) and two poles – not that balance is an issue – rental of which is relatively cheap from the local ski hire shop. Other than that, you can wear the same clothes as for winter walking. What sets snow-shoeing apart from winter walking (and skiing) is that you needn't stick to prepared trails. In fact – subject to local conditions, of course – it's much more rewarding to explore expanses of virgin snow that are inaccessible to skiers and walkers, making it even more likely that you'll spot wildlife as you go along. You won't sink into the snow because the shoes distribute your weight so effectively. Your hosts, or staff at the local tourist office, will be able to advise you on the best areas to explore, and, depending on the village you've chosen, there may be waymarked (but otherwise unprepared) trails. If you prefer not to explore by yourselves, you can usually join guided excursions organised by the hotel, or even hire your own guide.

The following hotels (in no particular order) are good for winter walking and/or snow-shoeing:
• Hotel Matschner, Ramsau
• Hotel Wiesenhof, Pertisau
• Hotel Xander, Leutasch
• Hotel Meisser, Guarda (we organise special winter walking and snow-shoeing weeks here, with guided excursions included)
• Hotel Victoria, Kandersteg (again, you can join a special winter walking week here)
• Posthotel Engiadina, Zuoz
• Hotel Urthaler, Seiseralm
• Posthotel Lamm, Kastelruth

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