ARRIVING at the ski village of Beitostolen, three-hours south of Oslo, Norway’s capital, I was a little nervous, to say the least.

The majority of my two-hour flight from Gatwick to Fagernes Airport, and then the 40-minute drive to the village, had been spent wondering if eight years away from the slopes really was too long.

Fortunately, I had an excellent and patient instructor, a gentleman named Tor, waiting for me.

Tor, who also owns the ski school in Beitostolen, spent half an hour helping me regain my confidence on the easier blue and green slopes – among the hundreds of families with young children – before venturing on to the more testing red slopes in the afternoon.

Fortunately, it all came back to me quicker than expected – and Beitostolen was the ideal place to be eased back on to the slopes.

It has a real village atmosphere and a close-knit community, which centres around a handful of bars and restaurants, as well as a small supermarket and a Radisson Blu Hotel, which is where I stayed.

Beitostolen is an ideal location for families to learn to ski in safety on the smaller green, blue and red slopes in the centre of the village.

But for the more experienced skier some challenging red and black runs do lay in wait just a 10-minute shuttle bus ride away, which is still part of the site and covered by your ski pass.

There are ambitious plans to cover the 5km gap between the two sites with a gondola, so you can get from one to the other without having to leave the slopes.

While Beitostolen is undoubtedly designed to cater for families, thrill-seekers can still get their adrenaline fix in a number of ways.

Ever wondered what happens to white water rafts out of season? Well, in Norway they’re filled with people and sent hurtling down a 300-metre track at speeds of around 50mph.

If that sounds a bit too intense, then you can still get your kicks by riding a snowmobile around a purpose-built 300-metre course, at a mere 40mph.

If you want something for the whole family to enjoy then I fully recommend dog sledding across Beitostolen Lake. Beito Husky Tours take you across the vast frozen lake and through the forest – a real hands-on Norwegian experience.

An all-day expedition includes picking your dogs and harnessing them to your sled. You’re then shown how to steer and brake, but after that it’s totally down to you – you pilot the sled and command the huskies yourself. It’s great fun, but best prepare yourself for the occasional tumble, especially at the start around tight corners (although you’ll soon get the hang of it).

Our friendly guide Niklas led the expedition and halfway round built a fire, Ray Mears-style, before cooking up his famous fish soup for lunch and leading us back to our start point.

The apres-ski in Beitostolen is pretty non-existent during the week, but the place does come alive at weekends with Norwegians coming from as far as Oslo to party in the village and stay for some skiing.

There’s live music at all the village’s bars at the weekend, and it’s a good atmosphere – just be prepared to part with at least £7 for a pint of lager.

Dining options are a little limited, but do include a pizza restaurant, a couple of meat restaurants – and the Radisson Blu hotel offers an all-you-can-eat buffet every Friday night.

Occasional skiers, like myself, will be pleased to know that the hire centre is extremely well stocked with all the ski equipment you’ll need, including boots, poles and skis. However, do bring all your own warm clothing, including salopettes, if you have some.

Getting there

• Neilson Active Holidays offer skiing breaks to Norway and Beitostølen from London Gatwick. A seven-night break at the Radisson Blu, including direct charter flights from London Gatwick to Fagernes, transfers and half-board costs from £715 per person in March. For details, go to neilson.co.uk/Snow-Norway-At-a-Glance.aspx

• A six-day lift pass costs about £134, six-day ski hire costs about £83.

• Snowmobiling with Beito Aktiv: two hours on a track from about £60, including all equipment, go to beito-aktiv.com

• Snowrafting with Beito Aktiv: about £40 per person, including snowmobile transport and a light meal in a lavvu and beverages.

• Dog sledding with Beito Husky Tours, between 90 minutes and two hours, about £45 – visit beitohuskytours.com

• For general information, go to visitnorway.co.uk or beitostolen.com