Winter

El Caracol was designed to adapt itself to every season, but the Winter brings out the very best in it. The fire means staying home for the day becomes a treat... it is cosy, heart-warming, and affects every sense - from the cracking of the fire, to the smell of the frangrant burning wood, to the visual feast of fire, stone, wood and the majestic sight of ever-present Penalara.

There is a lot to do in the winter - but the favourite for many is the skiing. A 15 minute drive up the mountains leads you to two skiing resorts, Navacerrada (public) and Valdesqui (private, so slightly more expensive -but numbers are limited).

The area's altitude and dryness allows a sufficiently thick blanket of snow for skiing from the end of December to the end of April. The Natural Park of Peñalara also has the infrastructure necessary for cross-country skiing, with well-signposted routes.

Puerto de Navacerrada is also the only ski resort in the Madrid area with snow-making facilities. Surrounded by pine trees, the resort is divided into an upper area for medium-high ability, and a lower area for medium-beginner. The resort enjoys the following downhill ski slopes: 4 green, 2 blue, 9 red, 1 black, and there is a total of 10.73 km of marked ski runs. Lift tickets range from 10,25 euros and 25 euros, and there are four schools and 100 ski instructors.

For more information visit www.puertonavacerrada.com or www.valdesqui.es

Winter is a great time of year to spot wildlife - it is the time of year, for example, when you are most likely to spot (albeit fleetingly... they are very timid), the local wild boar, as the harsh weather forces them to descend from the peaks to the lower ground.