Alpine Snowsports

You won't find real snow at Alpine Snowsports near Farnham, but you will find the closest thing Surrey has to skiing lessons without flying to the Alps. It's an indoor slope facility where people of all abilities can learn to ski or snowboard on real snow made on-site. The runs are modest by Alpine standards, but they're proper challenging enough for beginners to get the fundamentals down and intermediates to sharpen their technique.

The venue works best for families wanting to try winter sports without the expense or hassle of a week abroad. Kids tend to love it - there's something about sliding down a slope indoors that feels deeply wrong and brilliant at the same time. Expect to spend two to three hours if you're taking a lesson, less if you just want a quick go. Beginners should allow extra time for kit hire and briefing.

It's paid entry, obviously, and lessons cost separately. Your best bet is to ring ahead and book, particularly if you're planning a group session. Farnham town centre is close by for coffee afterwards, though the facility itself is a bit isolated.

If you're staying at Chapel Farm Park or Tilford Woods Lodge Retreat during a Surrey Hills holiday, this makes a decent rainy-day option or something a bit different from the usual park activities. The hiking and woodland walks around the area are the real draw, but an afternoon on the slope breaks it up well. Worth a half-day detour, though not a reason to visit the region on its own.