Don't make the mistake of thinking that the winter season is the reserve of downhill ski enthusiasts.  The picturesque Swiss ski resort of Adelboden in the Bernese Oberland has plenty of other activities that allow visitors to get out on the snow to enjoy the crisp and invigorating mountain air, whatever their age or level of fitness.

Adelboden may be renowned for its Audi FIS Ski World Cup races, which always take place on the second weekend in January, but it also has plenty of hiking paths, cross-country trails and snow parks, not forgetting its sledding routes and, of course, the Skibock, which is unique to the resort.

Adelboden has 32 hiking trails, varying in length from 1km to 12km, which take from between 30 minutes and four hours to complete, so there is a suitable route for everyone. Many of these paths meander over snow-covered meadows, past picturesque old chalets, and through secret forests, before reaching a wooden bench at a spectacular vantage point, providing the perfect opportunity to rest, admire the views and soak up the meditative silence. The trails are well signposted and a hiking map can be picked up free from the local tourist office.

For those in search of an outdoor workout, there are several routes (signposted in pink) that allow snow shoe hikers to discover peaceful and secluded spots, well away from the crowds, while working up a good sweat! Others might wish to pursue the elegant art of cross-country skiing. Adelboden has several tracks, ranging in length from 2km to 9km of easy to moderate difficulty, two of which are snow-sure at a height of 2000m; English-speaking instructors can be hired at the Adelboden Ski School. Speaking from experience, snow shoe hiking and cross-country skiing are hard work, so a great way to burn up calories and build up a hearty appetite, while providing plenty of time to enjoy the stunning Alpine vistas.

For younger family members and, let's face it, older family members, too, there are several sledding runs in Adelboden that provide an opportunity to simply let go and squeal with delight as the sled gathers speed and propels you down the mountain side. Traditional wooden sledges, bobsleighs and modern airboards can be hired at various mountain stations and in the sport shops in the heart of the resort. Similarly, the snow tube runs on Engstligenalp are perennially popular with kids and the young at heart. Night-time sledding takes place every Saturday till the middle of March and every Wednesday in February – a great way to expend any left-over energy at the end of the day.

And for those who want to try something slightly different, there's the Skibock (a sawn-down ski with a simple seat) that's quite unstable, but very popular and extremely good fun. Dating to the 1920s, when the original was made from old barrels, it's a fun winter sports accessory that also has a practical purpose: local school kids use them as a quick and easy way to get to school in winter. Everyone should try a Skibock at least once!

Finally, for the less active or those in search of simple relaxation, there are opportunities in Abelboden to tandem paraglide with a professional (unless you want to learn how to paraglide while on holiday, which is also possible), to sit back and enjoy the view from a husky-drawn sleigh or a horse-drawn sled, and tuck into a fondue while sitting on reindeer furs inside a giant igloo.  And we haven't even started on the luxurious spas to be enjoyed at many of Adelboden's hotels…

Getting to Adelboden from south-east England is easy for snow sports enthusiasts with flights from London Southend to Berne (just a 45-minute drive from Adelboden) with Swiss airline Skywork (www.flyskywork.com), making even a weekend ski break a distinct possibility. Alternatively, a number of airlines fly from various UK airports to Zurich, from where it's a 2 hour, 45 minute journey to Adelboden.

For more information on Adelboden, please visit www.adelboden.ch

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Notes for editors
In November 2014, Mountain Management Consulting and the University of Innsbruck asked 47,935 skiers and snowboarders “Where is the best place to ski?” Adelboden was revealed as the third most popular ski area in Switzerland – with Zermatt in first place – and sixth best in the Europe, beating several better known ski areas such as Saas-Fee and Val Gardena.

Adelboden, with a population of just over 3,500, lies in the west of the Bernese Oberland, at the end of the Engstlige valley. It is a traditional, south-facing Swiss mountain resort, filled to the rafters with wooden chalets that look over to the Engstligen waterfalls (the second longest falls in Switzerland). Adelboden's main street lies at 1,350 m (4,430 ft), while the highest point in the area, the Grossstrubel, reaches 3,242 m (10,636 ft).

 In 1903, Adelboden was the destination of the first packaged winter sports holiday, which was organised by Sir Henry Lunn, one of the founders of Lunn Poly. The Adelboden-Frutigen-Lenk ski region remains a tempting destination for winter sport enthusiasts.  On offer are winter hiking and cross-country skiing trails, as well as a snow park, a free ride arena, freestyle runs, tobogganing trails, dog sled rides, snow tubing, igloo-building classes and the chance to try out a skibock (a sawn down ski with a seat) that was created in Adelboden.  Ski runs vary in degrees of difficulty, from beginner slopes to the World Cup giant slalom run on the Chuenisbargli.

In total, 72 high-performance transport facilities provide access to a piste network of just over 210 kilometres, which have received the international ski area test quality seal.

Tourism in Adelboden is especially suitable for families. Adelboden has 28 hotels (ranging from 4* superior to B&Bs) with 1585 beds, 3800 vacation homes with 7,600 beds, 30 group accommodations with 1835 beds, 3 camp sites and 21 restaurants offering a wide range of cuisines, from traditional Swiss to fast food to Asian.

For more information, please contact:
Sue Heady
Director
Heady Communications
T: 01608 651 692
M: 078 5595 0705
E: sue@headycommunications.com