Rambling man

Rambling man

Weather-wise it’s been a disappointing summer, so why not throw fiscal caution to the wind and book another break for autumn or winter? Europe’s best bet is skiing of course, but should you still be hankering for a dose of bone-warming sunshine, then boy do we have the thing for you… Words by Alex Doak.

A long weekend – Slovenia

If you’re tired of the luxury posturing, why not hop further east and swap Verbier for Vogel? The magical mountain scenery of the Slovenian Julian Alps is at its best here, from snow-dusted forests to frozen lakes with island churches and clifftop castles.

STAY: The chocolate-box lakeside town of Bled is a backpackers’ insider secret, not least because all those backpackers are growing up and revisiting their gap-year highlights, though now staying in hotels rather than hostels (hence all those luxury eco-resorts popping up throughout Thailand). While Bled’s youth hostel is better than most, may we heartily divert you towards Rikli Balance, with recent renovation rooms focused on your health and wellbeing. Not only are rooms are furnished with the spruce wood that grows in nearby Pokljuka, but essential oils from the resin combine with breathable wall paint to make your airways as happy inside as they are outside. Everyone gets a balcony and a spectacular view of the mirror lake.

SKI: Dotted across the Julian Alps, the three main ski resorts in Slovenia have gentle, uncrowded slopes. The main ski area of Vogel in the beautiful Bohinj Valley is a scenic 30-45 minutes' free bus ride away from Bled. If you fancy exploring some different resorts during your holiday, jump on the daily free ski bus to the resort of Krvavec, or take a taxi to Kranjska Gora as they are both covered on the lift pass. The superb ski schools make it a popular pick for beginners and families, and excellent snowmaking keeps the powder topped up throughout the winter. Area lift passes cover 72km of piste across Kranjska Gora, Krvavec and Vogel, packing in good beginner slopes and a few reds and blacks. crystalski.co.uk

EXPLORE: Bled is a winter paradise, with plenty besides the pistes, from dog sledding, snowshoeing, to horsedrawn carriage rides and it’s not far to take a day trip to the capital city of Ljubljana. Plus, if it gets cold enough, and you’re brave enough, Lake Bled occasionally freezes over…

An epic adventure – Bacchanallan Baja

It’s just a 90-minute drive from the US border to Valle de Guadalupe – Baja California’s biggest and best wine region (yes, as in ‘Mexico’). It’s a whole lot cheaper and far less predictable than Napa, which is why Angelenos in the know have been escaping here for years. If you like your wine, you should too.

STAY: Less than a four-hour drive from LAX airport, all the wineries you’ll want to hit are within 15 minutes from Hotel Encuentro Guadalupe’s modernist wood-clad cabins, dotted into the boulderstrewn hills. After a day of wine tasting, pour yourself a final glass of red, light your outdoor fireplace, and prepare for some epic stargazing. grupoencuentro.com.mx

EXPLORE: The Valle de Guadalupe region of Baja California is a 14-mile pastoral paradise, with patchworks of vineyards planted by Mexico’s original Spanish settlers as well as Italians and Russians arriving with their own grape varieties. At Finca La Carrodilla, sit in the rooftop garden and have a glass of the crisp biodynamic chenin blanc (few whites are produced in this red-heavy area). For a small-batch experience, Quinta Monasterio is a tight-knit family vineyard offering tours and a taste of their specialty Natal, a dry, apricot-peach-pear Chardonnay, and their Sinfonía de Tintos, an impressive red blend.

EAT AND DRINK: With the ‘drink’ element well and truly covered above, let’s look at the best for ‘eat’: unquestionably Baja’s answer to the French Laundry, Corazón de Tierra. Diego Hernández’s five-course tasting menu is brilliant, and brilliantly great value. For a more casual vibe, chef Drew Deckman’s al fresco bar, Concha de Piedra is also a mustvisit next to the upper vineyard on Mogor Ranch, where the salty bite of oysters and crisp champagne cut right through the desert heat.