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Rustad Hotel, Sjusjøen, Above Lillehammer
If you are looking for fantastic cross-country skiing for any level from the door, first-rate hospitality, high-quality cuisine, and a hotel and location that feel pleasantly removed from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, then you will love Sjusjøen (pronounced 'Shush-sho-en') and the timber-built Rustad Hotel. From the moment you step through the door, you know you are going to have a very relaxing week. The typical Norwegian décor, wood-cladding and great sense of tradition create a feeling of cosiness and intimacy, and this is perfectly complemented by the warm hospitality of your genial hosts, Erik and Annie Rustad, whose personal attention makes you feel like a welcome house guest. Rooms: You can choose between two types of bedroom: the well-appointed, comfortable rooms in the main hotel, or the smaller, simpler twin-bedded rooms with wood-cladding in the ‘Fjellstue’, just 50 metres from the main building. All have a shower, television and telephone, while hairdryers can be borrowed from reception. Facilities: The five inviting, log-cabin-style lounges (two of which have an open fire), provide space to unwind after a day on the trails, and there is also a solarium and two saunas (one for men, the other for women). There is also a television room and a bar, plus facilities for table tennis and billiards. Restaurant: The intimate restaurant looks out over the snow-clad fells and frozen lake. Unusually – but ideal after a day on the trails – the excellent three-course dinner is served at 6.30pm. Skiing and other winter activities: As you would expect of the domain that hosted the 1994 Winter Olympics, the cross-country skiing is well organised, and there are endless, very rewarding trails for intermediates and advanced skiers over fells and through forests. You can even ski to Lillehammer, 18 kilometres away. However, the 300-kilometre domain also caters very well for beginners, and the sheltered terrain and the presence of a British instructor, Keith Richardson, whose expertise and patience earn him high praise, make Sjusjøen an ideal place to learn. There are huts along the trails where you can pause to eat your picnic, though you may wish to return to the hotel at midday so as to sample the lunch buffet, which can be paid for locally and costs around £16. For a day or two’s alpine skiing, Sjusjøen offers a small downhill area comprising nine beginners’ and intermediates’ slopes, accessed by bus. Lillehammer’s Hafjell domain (a 25-minute journey by bus) boasts more extensive skiing, with nine green, nine blue, five red and four black slopes, 7 kilometres of which are floodlit for evening skiing. Other activities available locally include dog-sledding, ice-fishing and ice-skating. The village: Sjusjøen is a small, quiet village in a dramatic location by a frozen lake surrounded by silent forests and moorland. There are a couple of cafés, shops and restaurants in the village, but a wider range of facilities can be found in Lillehammer. Christmas festivities: If you are holidaying over Christmas, you can enjoy traditional Norwegian celebrations, a special dinner on Christmas Eve and carols and music around the tree. New Year celebrations: New Year arrangements include a gala dinner, live music and a fireworks display. Prices & travel:
Nights: 7 > Travel diary  |
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Rustad Hotel
