Top 10 blue ski runs

We’ve already had enough of the most depressing day of the year, so we’re opting for a slight name change: Blue Run Monday! Pistes don’t get more ‘feel good’ than cruisey groomers, which is why we’re celebrating blues glorious blues – the all-embracing pistes that boost confidence, give your thighs a breather and let you slow the pace and soak up the sights.

These are our 10 favourite blue pistes on the planet – instead of letting Blue Monday get you down, a spot of downhill daydreaming is the ultimate remedy for a depressing day in Blighty.

Cascades, Flaine

Cascades holds the title of the longest blue run in Europe and all 14km of it’s a delight to ski. You set off up at 2500m (via the Grandes Platières cable car and Serpentine blue) then the run streams all the way down the edge of the Grand Massif, ending up at Sixt Fer a Cheval (one of Frances prettiest villages). If variety’s the spice of life, this run has a taste of everything: Cruisey bits, speedy bits, flatter bits, straight bits, zig-zag bits.

Blanchot-Tetras, Val Thorens

Blanchot and Tetras cross over each other under VT’s Boismint chair. They’re both gloriously long and wide and to-ing and fro-ing keep the run interesting. If you haven’t already, head back up and stop at Chalet des 2 Ours at the junction – for deck chairs, awesome tartiflette and delicious salted caramel crepes.

Blue 17 (Happy Valley), St Anton

Let it be known that St Anton’s not ALL about fast-paced, powder-filled descents. Happy Valley gently streams between the hills from Galzig to Stuben, and it couldn’t be cruisier. With a heated chair lift to take you straight back up, it’d be rude not to enjoy it more than once.

Le Tunnel, La Plagne

There’s something novel about skiing through the mountain as well as down it… This run starts off at Roche de Mio, but before you ski it, turn 360° for staggering sights of Paradiski from 2700m. Half way down you’ll ski through the tunnel, where cool lazers light up the walls. Then you’re back in the great outdoors to ski the rest of the route towards Belle Plagne and Bellecote.

Folyeres, La Tania

If you ask us, Folyères is one of the gems of the 3V’s – a gorgeous 3km blue into La Tania, it’s straight, wide, flanked by Narnia-like pines and an absolute blast after fresh snowfall. Rumor has it the brains behind the original Folyères was ski champion Emile Allais – it used to lead to Brides les Bains, before La Tania arrived and became the new end point.

4 O’Clock, Breckenridge

Breck’s peaks are swimming in its signature wide blue groomers (and they have brilliant names, like Bliss and Forget-me-not). But if we had to pick one, it would be the 4 O’Clock on Peak 8: Mellow and roomy it’s a dream to ski, with trees to skiers left that you can dip in and out of. It eases into a green later on, passing the snowpark before finishing up in town.

Piste B, Morzine

Pleney’s piste B is a lovely long route, winding in and out of the trees on a rolling route back into Morzine. You can take detours via pistes C and D, making the descent a little different every time (skiing via D is a slightly easier route for beginners). Whether you’re using it as a home run, or doing the rounds on familiar ground, it’s a lovely little confidence booster.

Roc de Fer, Meribel

Joining together two pistes once known as Grand Duc and Escargot, RdF was the Ladies Downhill in the ’92 Olympics and hosted the World Cup final last year. Over 800m of vertical, it crams in gorgeous views of the trees, hills and choc box chalets of the Tarentaise valley and a terrific mix of speeds.

Corniche, Tignes

You don’t have to be bombing down the Sache to enjoy this neck of the woods – the Corniche run lets you experience the iconic Eye of the Needle up on Aguille Percee (cameras at the ready), followed by a wide, rolling descent linked up with other blues into Les Boisses.

Averau (Piste 9), Cortina

Blue runs don’t tend to make you weak at the knees on first sight – but this one will just for its surroundings. Up in the Cinq Torri sector, the Averau looks over the jagged Tofane massif and Sasso di Stria (an Austrian stronghold during WW1) – it’s nothing short of spectacular. We could easily devote days to the runs around here… And the rifugios – like Scoiattoli, where you can ogle at the pale mountains whilst feasting on fresh pasta and vino.