Travel: Tignes - a return to skiing with Mark Warner in France's 3 Valleys

It turns out skiing and riding a bike have more in common than I thought – once you learn you never forget.

When I strapped on my boots for the first time in the village of Val Claret, high in the French Alps, it had been more than 10 years since I last took to the slopes.

And my return to skiing was also a return to Tignes, one of Europe’s most reliable and well-regarded winter sports destinations.

But assuming myself to be a beginner again, I was fully expecting to see very little of the Espace Killy ski area’s 300km of bustling, pristine pistes.

I consoled myself with the knowledge that even if I bombed on the slopes, I could return to the warm and welcoming surroundings of Mark Warner’s new five-star Chalet Hotel L’Ecrin.

And stepping out the door of the 56-room hotel, located in the heart of the busy village, the chair lifts are accessible after just a 60-second bus ride.

Although Instead of quickly ending up in an embarrassing heap of snow and ski poles, I found plenty of wonderful, wide runs perfectly suited to my ability.

It doesn’t matter if you’re an absolute beginner or a hardened veteran, Val Claret provides a fantastic base for your skiing holiday.

At 2,100m and set on two levels, it is the highest village in the resort and boasts a variety of routes up onto the slopes, starting almost right from your doorstep.

You could take one of the fast-moving chair lifts higher up into the mountains, which feature spectacular views and an impressive variety of green and blue slopes, suitable for all abilities.

Or you might decide to board the funicular railway up onto the Grande Motte glacier, where those with more experience will be faced with a range of more challenging red runs.

You could even take a short bus trip down to Tignes-Le-Lac, where there are even more pistes to master, including nursery slopes for brand-new skiers.

And for my two days of skiing there was a constant clear blue sky was constantly visible and the sun shone brightly overhead.

For those in the know, such as our cheerful Evolution 2 instructor Fred, the snow and conditions could not have been better – for newbies and die-hards alike.

There are also lift passes to suit everyone – depending if you want to just ski around Tignes or explore the wider Espace Killy area, named after the skier Jean-Claude Killy and covering the resorts of Val d’Isère and Tignes.

A pass for the former for six days will cost £168 for an adult, while the latter will set you back £198 per person.

Also popular for families containing two adults and two children are group passes for the whole area for £635, which works out at £159 each.

Tignes popularity means that after an exhilarating and exhausting morning on the slopes you are never far from somewhere stellar to eat.

For the finest pizza in the resort, the unassuming but very reasonable La Pignatta can be found in the higher part of Val Claret.

If you want something a little more spectacular, La Tete de Solaise is high above the nearby village of Val d’Isere and offers a huge range of dishes.

In the evenings the Chalet Hotel L’Ecrin serves a selection of stunning three-course meals in a restaurant that’s full of laughter and fun, as skiers debrief each other on the day’s action.

The comfortable lounge area to relax in after a hard day’s skiing

The timber hotel is built in the traditional Savoie style and its wood-panelled interiors are cosy and comfortable, with a large lounge filled with inviting sofas – especially attractive for those with sore legs – around an open fireplace.

Twins, doubles, interconnecting and family bedrooms are available all with balconies overlooking the slopes, flat screen TVs and free WiFi access in the rooms.

And after a long day on the slopes, guests can visit the spa’s four therapy rooms or enjoy a range of treatments from massages to manicures.

The hotel also boasts a large swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi and Turkish bath – providing weary skiers with everything they need to relax and prepare for the next day’s adventure.

And if you run out of things to do at the hotel, Val Claret boasts a very healthy range of activities to fill your evenings.

These include three nightclubs – including the popular Blue Girl and Melting Pot – a cinema, spas and a range of other sports for those not too tired from skiing.

* The Espace Killy is a ski area in the Tarentaise Valley, Savoie in the French Alps, named after the triple Olympic champion skier Jean-Claude Killy, who grew up in Val d’Isère, which it covers along with Tignes. There are 300km of pistes there: 22 green runs, 61 blues, 46 reds and 25 blacks, plus 44 km of cross country skiing.

It also boasts two terrain parks (areas that allows skiers and snowboarders to perform tricks), two glaciers and 90 ski lifts.

ESSENTIALS

* Renting adult skis and boots for six days cost £112, while ski lessons are priced at £164 for the week.

* A week at Mark Warner’s new chalet hotel – it only opened last year – is priced from £582 per person. This includes return flights from London Gatwick, seven nights half-board accommodation, including wine with a three-course dinner, plus afternoon tea and resort transfers. The price is based on two people sharing. 

* Contact Mark Warner on 0844 273 6793 or at markwarner.co.uk.