Year round snow in Tamworth

As the temperature finally hit the 80’s this August, I sweltered in our well-insulated loft for the best part of a Friday evening, searching by torchlight for jackets, matching gloves, hats and other assorted items of family ski gear. With bags finally packed, and feeling that it might have been a lot less stressful to organise a day at the beach, four excited children and their slightly weary parents set off the next morning via the M25, M40 and M42 to Tamworth Snowdome.

Set in an industrial park just off junction 10, it’s not immediately apparent that you are arriving at the UK’s leading real snow centre. In fact, we felt a bit daft lugging bags across the carpark with no obvious sign of anyone else doing the same. However, once you get inside you forget that you are on the outskirts of Birmingham and enter a veritable miniature ski resort, albeit one illuminated by artificial lighting and with a single run.

We started off by sorting out rental equipment (although you can bring your own), and then emerged in a state of eager anticipation into the very chilly air at the foot of the 170m main snow slope ready for an action-packed afternoon. Getting to the top is a piece of cake with two travelators moving at a sedate pace, and easy to ride for children. Getting back down again takes less than a minute, but there’s enough time for a couple of dozen turns and the feeling, if a little brief, that this is the real thing. Once down, it’s straight back up again (and again and again), although there’s also a shorter rope-pull lift, if you just fancy trying the steeper part near the base of the slope.

It’s not quite in the same league as summer skiing on the Grande Motte, but it’s great fun and the kids were ecstatic especially as we could safely leave them to do their own thing. Recreational skiing or snowboarding sessions last an hour, but a computerised entry system means that you can break up the time if you fancy stopping half way through for a drink in the bar (overlooking the slope, naturally). There’s also the option of continuing for a second hour at a discounted rate, and with no queues at the bottom of the lift there’s no wasted time hanging around.

After plenty of skiing, the slope closed at around 5pm for a few minutes “grooming” and then reopened for Saturday night adult tobogganing. Suddenly it felt like being in the middle of a big après ski event - crowds of people appeared, the lights went down, the music was turned up, and the travelator was packed, this time with each person clutching a toboggan and determined to pack in as many descents as possible into the half hour session. This was a great way to finish the day and get an adrenalin buzz – all it needed was a glass of gluhwein and a fondue and we’d have been looking for a place to sleep!

The Snowdome promotes itself as a resort rather than just a slope, and you’ve got to hand it to them that they are squeezing every ounce of potential out of the place. There’s an impressive array of activities on offer, and you would need to visit several times to experience them all – a typical week includes recreational skiing and snowboarding, tuition for all standards and ages, tubing for children and adults, sledging and tobogganing birthday parties, teenage discos, adult tobogganing, school groups, ski blading and snowmobiling. There’s also the “Aspens” bar and restaurant in the style of a Swiss chalet with a viewing balcony and corporate room for large groups and themed events.

Skiing or snowboarding on real snow does make a difference – it’s nothing like the more traditional dry slope experience, and the slope at the Snowdome is long enough to have some fun and whet your appetite for the real thing. It’s best suited to beginners, low intermediates and children. More advanced skiers wouldn’t be challenged, but it’s still worth a visit to try out some of the alternative activities and remind yourself of why you should get on and book that winter holiday without delay.

As we emerged into the carpark at the end of the day, it was bizarre to be hit by the warm air, British sunshine and the traffic of Saturday afternoon shoppers leaving B&Q. Chilling out back on the M42, the universal vote was that there was some good snow in Tamworth, although a bit icy in patches – and you can’t get more realistic than that….

For more information, visit the excellent website
www.snowdome.co.uk
or call 08705 000011

Prices
Recreational skiing £10.50 member £15 non member for one hour off peak (includes ski and boot hire), £7 for children members, £10 non members

Other activities (all for 30 minute sessions unless otherwise indicated)
Fun snowblade sessions £5 (over 8 years)
Junior sledging £3.50 (307 years)
Tiny Tubing £4 (3-7 years)
Tubing for older children and adults £7
Children’s tobogganing £4 (over 5 years)
Adult tobogganing £6
Birthday parties – sledging, tobogganing, and tubing from £6.95 per child

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