Swadlincote Snowsports Review – Days Out Diaries

Written by our East Midlands Days Out Diaries reviewer - Kerry Lowe

So yesterday we decided to visit Swadlincote Snowsports Centre. Our Planet Radio Voucher included 3 activities at the Centre – snow tubing, viper slide and tobogganing. The voucher terms stated that we needed to book in at the centre in advance, so I did this roughly 2 weeks prior via Facebook messenger. The staff were quick to check us in and we were given half hour timeslots for each activity. We had been a little worried when we arrived at the centre as it looked quite small from outside, however we need not have worried the centre is huge!

First on the list was the sno-tubing! This activity takes place on the huge main dry ski slope and included in our voucher we got unlimited rides within half an hour. The activities are suitable from age 4 upwards and to be honest when we first stood at the top of the slope my little boy Bobby wasn’t fancying it at all… He soon calmed down though after watching his sister slide down the slope. The snow tubing really is brilliant fun and we had such a laugh. It’s surprising how quick the tubes actually go! One thing to mention… the hill to get back up the slope is a killer! Especially when having to pull the tube back up to the top (and also worth mentioning that Mum had a slight hangover from a Christmas party the night before so wasn’t 100%). It’s also important to wear shoes with a really good grip as the hill is really slippy in sections when walking up the side path.

We then moved onto the viper slide where we had been given 12 passes for 3 rides each. The viper slide is 70 metres long and is similar to the snow tubing but a bit more bumpy and winding! Bobby didn’t have a go on this slide as it was a bit too scary for him, but his sister and Dad were happy to use up his vouchers. Again, the hill is a bit of hard work to climb back up.

Finally (and definitely our favourite activity of all) was the 500-metre toboggan run. Again, we were given passes for 3 rides each on the toboggan run. This activity again is suitable form age 4 – but children aged between 4 and 7 must ride with an adult. This worked out well as the staff classed Bobby riding with us as 1 person/ride – meaning we could use his 3 passes separately for extra goes. You are pulled up the slope mechanically (similar to a roller coaster) before being set free on the metal toboggan run. The toboggan is controlled by a lever at the front, allowing you to easily brake and control your speed.The toboggans go really fast – but there are big clear signs all along the side of the track telling you when to reduce your speed which is brilliant. We absolutely loved it.

It’s worth mentioning that the staff on each section worked extremely hard and definitely contributed to our experience with how helpful and fun they were (spinning the sno-tubes for the kids and chatting to them when waiting for the toboggans).

When our activities were all done we headed up to the Alpine Lodge Bar/Restaurant for a hot chocolate. The restaurant is really nice and overlooks the slopes through large glass windows. We all opted for hot chocolates to warm us all up and they were delicious, topped with cream, marshmallows and flakes!

We really enjoyed our visit here and will definitely return soon. We both agreed that this would be an ideal alternative Christmas gift for someone and a brill activity to do between Christmas and New Year. We were lucky with the weather as although it was very cold it was a dry day, however even if it had been raining, I think it would still have been fun!

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