Unlikely ski resorts in Europe

It may only be August, but many British holidaymakers will already be looking ahead to the winter season and the chance to indulge in winter sports. Europe has many traditional skiing spots available, but there are also some unusual places with great slopes to explore.

One small country that is tucked away in central Europe is Slovenia, and flying to Ljubljana offers the chance to discover the country's rugged slopes for a lot less expense than many popular resorts in France or Italy. Slovenia has a stunning array of lakes that offer an added beauty to the scenery as ski enthusiasts hurtle down the mountainside.

Though more popular than Slovenia, Bulgaria is also a great place for winter sports, being cheaper than many top European spots but offering great slopes to enjoy. Top ski resorts such Bansko are easily accessible with flights to Sofia, and more isolated areas, such as Dobrinishte, offer stunning off-piste slopes.

Finally, with the city hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics, Russia's Sochi is a great new and upcoming destination. Flights to Krasnodar offer the ideal travel route and, once at the resort, winter sports enthusiasts will discover hundreds of kilometres of new ski runs to enjoy.