Langlaufen near Cologne

Hi All

Recently moved to Cologne and would like to have a go at some winter sports. Can anybody suggest where we could try some cross-country skiing around the Cologne area and the how to get there?

We are all beginners, so we need somewhere where you can just turn up and hire stuff and maybe get lessons. Is that possible round here and any idea how much it costs?

Any information gratefully received.

Regards
PoD

In the Eifel region on the Belgian border perhaps. I'm pretty sure you can.

Yep what righter said: the Eifel region is supposed to be good for that kind of caper (at least if my students from that area are to be believed) or if you want to travel a little bit further, the Sauerland (south of Dortmund). Both areas are very pretty too I might add.

Hi

Thanks for the info, but I presume there are particular towns or something that we should head for? Would you happen to know the names?

Cheers
PoD

In the Sauerland: Winterberg seems to be a very popular location for winter sports and it attracts a lot of tourists from the Netherlands (not to mention other folks who couldn't be arsed driving to Bayern for a ski trip). Don't know any specific town names in the Eifel though as I've only driven through there on the way to Belgium and France I will ask one of my students (on Tuesday) which towns she recommends for cross-country skiing and get back to you.

Thanks Nixe, most appreciated.

No worries - this site could also be of assistance to you.

Slightly off topic I know, but where would be good for a weekend snowboarding trip nearish to Cologne?

If you can read German, click on the individual place names from the link I posted above. There is a small description of some popular ski areas in NRW and which ones are better for snowboarding, langlaufen, toboganning etc. (It's not an exhaustive guide but at least a place to start). Sadly, my only first hand knowledge is of Winterberg (and I was there in summer not winter) and the indoor downhill skiiing complex in Bottrop

Checked with my student this morning and she said Weißer Stein and Schwarzer Mann are the places to go for Skilanglauf in the Eifel area.

Thanks nixe. I shall check out the website and look up the places you mentioned.

Happy new year and all that.

No worries. Happy New Year to you too and hope there's (enough) snow to go skiing on!