It took 70 years, but the small Spanish ski area of La Covatilla is now operational, with a modest six ski runs served by a modern quad chair and two surface lifts.

Pioneers built a ski refuge in the area in the 1930s, but it gradually went out of use, now the regional government has invested in the new centre

Controversy still surrounds a further plan to build a gondola lift up to 2000 metres. The idea was approved by the European Union as long ago as 1994 as part of a 400 million psaeta investment (this was before the Euro currency came in). But bureaucratic delkays and objections from environmental campaigners shave so far stopped the gondola.

Apart from environmental objections there is some doubt as to the long term operational viability of the ski centre, although it has been eyed as a potential ski area for many decades by enthusiasts. Situated between 2000 and 2380 metres the anticipated snow zone does receive abundant natural snowfall from the Atlantic, according to a study conducted by staff at the nearby University of Salamanca.

It's students from the university town of Salamanca who make a good part of the ski area’s clientele, but the area is only 100km (60 miles) west of capital Madrid too.