The only ski centre in Spain’s Segovia region, La Pinilla has the dubious claim to fame of being one of the last resorts in Europe to allow snowboarders, banning them from the slope through to the late 1990s. Happily that’s all in the past, and a terrain park, first built for the 2005-6 season, is now in full swing.

Just 60 miles from capital Madrid, this is arguably the best equipped of the four areas that are an easy commute from the capital. Uplift on the healthy 2,600 foot vertical in provided by a gondola backed up by two quad chairs and a dozen other lifts and 75% of the terrain has snow making coverage.