Holiday Inn Hemel Hempstead M1, Jct. 8

Five minutes' drive from the hotel, Hemel Hempstead Snow Centre's 160-metre snow slope caters to skiers and snowboarders of all levels. Brush up on your skills with a friendly instructor, try the freestyle park's boxes, rails and jumps, or shoot downhill in a sledge. You can watch the action from the lodge-themed bar and restaurant, and there's a Snow Garden for tots at the base of the main slope.

The woodlands and chalk downs of Berkhamsted's Ashridge Estate are only 10 miles from the hotel. Well-marked trails run through ancient trees and farmland, and you can look out for native deer and badgers. For lunch, enjoy a picnic in the grounds or eat at the estate café. On fine days, you can see London from the lofty Bridgewater Monument, and in spring the meadows are violet with bluebells.

At the base of the Chiltern hills, 15 minutes' drive from the hotel, is the boutique Frithden's Vineyard. You can tour the property and taste their wines, developed to suit the local climate. Admire the view from the terrace cafe and buy a bottle from the cellar door before you leave. Dinners and parties can be arranged for your family and friends. It's open weekends from March, or by appointment.