Dreaming of winter? So are we! 

As the crisp autumn mornings roll in, we can’t help but dream of snowy peaks, thrilling trails, and breathtaking alpine adventures. Winter is just around the corner, and what better way to kick it off than with a visit to the London Snow Show! Whether you're a seasoned adventurer or new to the world of snow, we at Tracks and Trails are here to help you dive into the best winter experiences.

Fern is from Shropshire, but now lives in Chamonix, France, from where she works as a team GB cross-country ski & para Nordic national performance coach. Basically she coaches skiers to get to Olympic and Paralympic level. Fern spends most of the summer coaching on rollerskis before taking athletes to international competitions in winter. She holds the Level 3 ISIA Nordic Ski Teacher qualification and is a Nordic Ski Trainer for BASI. Growing up, Fern was a competitive open water swimmer and alpine skier before seeing nordic skiing on TV which soon became her dream sport, at eighteen she left the midlands for Sweden where she studied political science as a full time athlete in the British Nordic Ski Team, training alongside Olympic medalists and competing at World Championship level until 2018. She returned to the UK for a while and coached the London XC Ski Club before moving to the Alps. In her spare time, Fern loves to ski and hike with her dog and is passionate about the accessibility and holistic benefits of nordic skiing for all abilities and types of skiers.

A best-selling cross country ski trip - The Peer Gynt Trail! This was our first long-distance ski trip in Norway, and it remains one of our most popular. A stunning introduction to Nordic ski touring with views to some of Norway's most famous mountain ranges, excellent hotel accommodation with spas, and your luggage transferred each day. The Peer Gynt Løype, loipe or trail is named after a local Norwegian hero, who was characterised into fiction by author Henrik Ibsen.

Our 120 km tour, which begins northwest of the Winter Olympic town of Lillehammer, skis the entire route in what is known as 'Peer Gynt Country'. We love it and you’ll see why from the video taken at the Skardbua pass.

A fantastic morning’s climb of about 630 metres brings us to the Skardbua pass. We would mostly expect to be the only skiers in sight on the Peer Gynt Trail much of the time. However, our sun-drenched video was taken on Easter weekend.

It’s a big cultural festival for the Norwegians. An estimated 75% of the population of Oslo head into the mountains to celebrate the arrival of spring, longer sun-filled days and fantastic ski conditions.

It’s wonderful to witness so many people Nordic skiing. There were adults and children of all ages. People were skiing with their dogs and parents towing smaller children in traditional pulkas.

The kiosk at the pass was busy selling hot drinks and our Tracks and Trails guests got to enjoy a well-deserved hot chocolate sitting in the Easter sunshine.

Why Begin Cross-Country Skiing this Winter? It’s the perfect boost for your running fitness

Cross-country skiing (a.k.a. Nordic skiing, or ski de fond) is currently enjoying a serious renaissance. Like the boom in road cycling and ultra trail running that’s taken the UK and US by storm in recent years, it’s no longer just nerdy endurance geeks and burly army boys who are hooked on this now-fashionable-again winter sports pursuit. 

Unlike their Scandinavian forefathers, today’s Nordic newschoolers are decked out in on-trend, technical gear (from brands such as Oakley, Maloja and Salomon), while events such as the Vasaloppet in Sweden have attracted celebrity participants including Kate Middleton’s sister, Pippa. The Swiss Engadin Marathon – one of the biggest XC Ski events has between 11,000 and 13,000 participants every year. 



It can seem a little daunting choosing the right destination for your cross country skiing or snowshoe trip this winter. So much choice!
Well, we’ve a short guide to the different countries - what they each have to offer by way of their distinct charms and unique experiences … Read on to see whether France, Switzerland, Italy, Norway, Sweden or Germany should be top of your list for your next cross country skiing or snowshoeing holiday. 

So, which course would be best for you?

As each winter passes we find more and more people are trying cross country skiing. It's such a fabulous way to travel in winter, and you can do it at whatever level you wish. You can 'toddle' along enjoying the views, or really 'go for it' and give yourself an all over body workout! We offer various courses for different levels. Read to see where your skiing could take you.

When I think of Peer Gynt I associate the name with the character in the famous play by the Norwegian dramatist Henrik Ibsen, but I have to say that thoughts of drama on the stage have been replaced by drama in the mountains! Last year, for the first time, we took our clients to Norway to ski the 'Peer Gynt' trail, and it was stunning.