This is not a ski resort which can boast a large skiable terrain. There are exactly 27.5 kilometres of vertical drop, but what makes its pistes special is the high quality of the snow, due to the orientation of its slopes. It is clear that 30 years ago it snowed considerably more and at much lower altitude than it does today. However, Campoo is situated in a privileged position; the damp Cantabrian air collides with the freezing Castilian air, which creates the ideal temperature for heavy snowfall.

 

It is also an ideal resort for families, since amongst its 23 pistes, there is not a single black run (they are the most difficult). Four of them are classified as green (that is, easy), nine are blue (average) and ten are red (hard). At the resort, you can enjoy cross-country skiing with a 2.5 kilometre circuit and there is a children�s cable car for the little ones. As such, it is a good place to enjoy the snow and snowboarding without too many complications.

 

In terms of ski lifts, the pistes are perfectly connected. There are two four-seater chair lifts, two more with 3 seats each and finally two further chair lifts for two people. Likewise, there are 8 ski lifts. The infrastructure has a capacity of approximately 13,100 people per hour.

 

The Alto Campoo Ski School offers the possibility of having an instructor to teach us how to take our initial steps on the snow, or to perfect our style.

 

For those of us who cannot go on a week�s course or whose school does not have the White Week, as well as for families who like the snow and want to learn, there are courses lasting just a day. This way skiing as a family can become a reality.

 

It is simply a case of kitting yourself out with what you find at home (warm clothes, gloves, glasses, a hat, etc) and going to Bra�avieja, Alto Campoo, one day. During the day you can use any of the ski lifts and most importantly, a qualified instructor who will ensure that your first steps on the snow are safe.

 

Bra�avieja has a separate building and area for the children�s snow park, run by instructors who play indoor and outdoor games with the children.

 

It is located in the lower area of the resort at the foot of the Pidruecos chair lift. It enables both parents and children to enjoy the snow.

 

The prices for the children�s park are as follows: 1 hour 7.20 �, half a day 18�.
The minimum age for attending the cr�che is two years old.

 

The secret to enjoying Alto Campoo to the full is to ski during the week. Its proximity to Santander, Palencia, Bilbao and Burgos, means that many enthusiasts go to Bra�avieja at the weekend. The chance of queues for both ski passes and ski lifts is very high.

 

How do we get to Alto Campoo?
Alto Campoo has good transport connections. From Bilbao, Vitoria and Logro�o, the quickest route is to follow the road to Santander (A- 8) and then go up via the Reinosa pass (Hoces de B�rcena). It can also be reached via Espinosa de los Monteros (Burgos). The journey is shorter, but the road is in worse condition and, as such, the traffic jams may be longer. From Palencia or Burgos it is approached via the A- 67.

 

How much will a day�s skiing cost us?
The ski pass for half a day�s skiing costs 17 euros for adults and 13 euros for children. The price for a whole day is 25 euros for adults and 17 euros for children. Two days cost 45 and 31 euros for adults and children respectively, and the whole season implies a payment of 395 euros. The resort also offers special prices for three, four and five consecutive days, which may be consulted on their web page (www.altocampoo.com).

 

There is also the chance to take a chair lift ride at a cost of 12 euros.

 

Where to eat, where to sleep?
The gastronomic offering of the Campoo region, and its capital, Reinosa, is vast, economical and of high quality. The traditional mountaintop cuisine and the beef are the speciality on all menus. (Hotel Vejo restaurant. Traditional cuisine. 942750017, Restaurante Pe�a. Traditional cuisine. 942754126)

 

Where accommodation is concerned, the resort has 400 hotel places between the Hotel la Corza Blanca (telephone 9427779250), and the tourist hotel. However, perhaps the rural options to be found within a radius of 35 kilometres may be interesting. The Campoo los Valles region has a large selection of rural tourism options, houses and rural apartments which retain the traditional local architecture, and where you will be treated like part of the family and the service is more pleasant.

 

Contact numbers
Reinosa Tourist Office: 942755215

White Telephone � Alto Campoo
942 77 92 22
942 77 92 23
699 90 62 20
699 90 77 29

http://www.altocampoo.com