CROSS COUNTRY SKIING IN VENABU

Originally a summer farm, the Venabu Fjellhotel was converted by the Tvete family over 50 years ago, and is today very much a friendly, relaxing 'home from home' place to stay. Headwater guests can choose to stay in either the east wing (20 standard rooms) or the west wing (36 superior rooms) and everyone can use the hotel’s saunas, solarium, Jacuzzi and ski waxing centre. There’s also a bar, a games room (table tennis, pool, etc), a TV room, craft shop and two spacious sitting rooms with open fireplaces. The dining room affords glorious panoramic views out across the mountains.

You can also go dog sledding, or on a torch-lit horse sleigh ride to visit a Sami (Lapp) wigwam (pay locally). There’s dancing to live music every evening except Sunday. During the week you might want to take the train to Lillehammer, where there’s a fascinating museum of Norwegian history and culture as well as a skating rink and swimming pool. There are also guided trips around the 1994 Olympics facilities (great for kids, approx £15 adults, £10 children) with a chance to watch some ski jumping. Extra children’s facilities are laid on in February half term, and also in Easter week. These include snow hole digging, an expedition with camp-fire cooking and a ski treasure hunt.

Norway has one of the oldest cuisines in Europe and, because of its relative isolation, it is in many ways unchanged since Viking days. The centrepiece is the spectacular Scandinavian buffet offering a huge range of hot and cold dishes, surrounded by salads, vegetables, barley and rye bread – it is particularly good for vegetarians.