There is a toboggan run in Ramersbach, the high-altitude district of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler. This is located directly on the L84 road opposite the hiking car park at the Königsfelder Dreieck.

The small community of Nettersheim also has something to offer for cross-country skiing fans. If there is enough snow, you can join the eight-kilometre-long circular ski trail here.

Snow telephone: 02486/1246

Further information:www.nettersheim.de

If you like to sit in a café and watch your children tobogganing, the Blankenheim district of Nonnenbach is the place to be. There is a small toboggan run for children right next to the Waldcafé Maus. From Wednesday to Sunday between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. sledges can also be borrowed from the café.

Snow telephone: 02482/85200

The ski area Michelsberg (588 meters) near Bad Münstereifel invites toboggan fans as well as skiers. It is a popular destination for families in particular. In addition to the activities on the slopes, winter hikes can also be undertaken on well-developed paths around the local mountain of Bad Münstereifel. Parking is available at the "Decke Tönnes" and "Bleielsnück" sites, but also below the Michelsberg.

Snow telephone: 02253/542244

At the Hohe Acht, the highest mountain in the Eifel with 747 metres, traditionally good winter sports conditions are predicted in snowy weather. The toboggan run from the Berghotel towards Jammelshofen should be easy to ski on in case of persistent snowfall. The ski lifts near the Waldhotel in Jammelshofen are open on weekdays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. with sufficient snow conditions - on Saturdays and Sundays also from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. The cross-country ski runs "Lützelacht" around the Hohe Acht have lengths of 5, 4 and 2.5 kilometres.

Snow telephone: 02691/7741

Further information:www.kaltenborn-eifel.de

The Arft winter sports facility is just a stone's throw from the Hohe Acht. There are good tobogganing conditions on snowy days. The lift runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 17 to 21.30, Tuesday and Thursday from 16 to 20.30, on Saturday from 12 to 16.30 and on Sunday from 10 to 16.30.

Snow telephone: 02655/3539

Further information:www.wsv-mayen.de

The winter sports area "Weißer Stein" near Hellenthal also invites you to toboggan and ski. The ski and toboggan lifts run from 11 a.m. on weekdays and Saturdays and from 10 a.m. on Sundays under good snow conditions. Sledges can be hired at the "Weißensteinhütte". The cross-country ski runs are only prepared if there is enough snow.

Snow telephone: 02482/85200

Further information:www.hellenthal.de

The Hollerath skiing and tobogganing area is 640 metres high - very close to the Hellenthal skiing area "Weißer Stein". The toboggan run is 150 metres long and there are 7.8 kilometres of signposted and groomed cross-country ski runs under optimal snow conditions. If you don't want to go on the pistes and cross-country trails, you can use the signposted winter hiking trails. Winter sports equipment can be hired in Hollerath.

Snow telephone: 02482/85115

Further information:www.hellenthal.de

A little further away, close to the Belgian border is the Monschau ski resort. A tobogganing meadow in the district of Rohren offers ideal conditions for toboggan fans with good snow conditions. Several marked cross-country trails are available for cross-country skiing enthusiasts. Specially attractive are the winter bike tour offers. Sledges, skis and bikes can be hired on site at the winter sports centre at Rödchenstraße 37.

Snow telephone: 02472/4172

Further information for the winter region Monschauer Land

In the northwest of Prüm, the winter sports area "Schwarzer Mann" offers a 450 metre long toboggan run as well as a children's toboggan run. There are also two alpine ski runs of 700 and 900 metres in length. The toboggan run has its own lift. The toboggan rental can be found in the so-called "Blockhaus" at the end of the runs. A large car park is also available for day visitors.

Snow telephone: 0655/4422
Further information:www.blockhaus-schwarzer-mann.de.

The Malberg-Hütte is located directly at the Westerwald-Steig in Hausen/Wied. Directly at the hut there is a slope for alpine descents in case of snowfall. There are also practice slopes and toboggan runs. The area is also suitable for hiking without snow. The ski slope is around 470 metres long and has a height difference of 110 metres.

Contact: Hütte: 02638 946731, Office: 02638 1098

Further information:malberg-huette.de

This is a list which does not claim to be complete or which would have followed objective criteria. It is also not a ranking. The order is arbitrary. Is there a place missing from the list? Please send us an e-mail to online@ga.de.

(Original text: Dierk Himstedt / Translation: Mareike Graepel)