Snowboarding and skiing in Bequeira – Beret

Bequeira - Beret resort caters to both the serious skier and the novice, with snowboarders also being welcomed. It is the largest resort in the Spanish Pyrenees and is popular with the well-heeled members of society; the Spanish Royal Family is in regular attendance here. Many of the ski resort’s visitors are Spanish, although this is largely due to its inaccessibility, as its mountains and gorges render travel by plane or train impossible. However, flights can be taken to Barcelona; from there, the journey can be completed by road.

Despite the popularity of the resort among the Spanish, the slopes are rarely crowded. Thirty lifts and 19 chairlifts take people to the different runs, which rise up to 2,510m in elevation. The runs are split into four green, 27 blue, 21 red, five black and numerous off-piste. There is also a seven-kilometre cross-country route.

There are 86kms of marked pistes. However, if you’re just off the nursery slopes, you may find some of the blues more challenging than usual. For experts, there's the infamous Escornacrabes run from the top of Cap Bequeira - a steep and narrow downhill plunge, the name of which translates as ‘the place where the goats die’. For good views of the valley, try the Bonaigua sector where there are two scenic blue runs.

Beginners should not worry, as Bequeira has several ski schools offering group and private lessons for skiers of all levels, with more than 200 instructors on hand. The resort has four childcare centres catering for youngsters from three months to eight years old. Children can either take ski lessons or simply be entertained while parents are out on the piste.

Bequeira’s snowboarders should head for the Cabin Fever snowboard shop which, as well as selling all the gear, is able to advise you on where to find the hidden half-pipe and the best off-piste spots. For those with a big budget, there are options to go heli-hiking and snowboard virgin drifts.

Après-ski is lively, with many bars and restaurants catering for the weary skiers’ needs. For those wanting a change from skiing and snowboarding, there is the nearby town of Vielha, which has an indoor sports centre.

The ski season lasts from December to April, with the cheapest weeks towards the end of the season. It is best reached by car from Lerida, or you can fly into Barcelona or Toulouse in France, which although not on the doorstep, are the closest international airports.