Lagrange Prestige Les Chalets d'Emeraude ★★★★

The Saisie-Hauteluce resort in Rhone-Alps is a paradise of summits, glaciers and stunning sunsets, and our chalet was the perfect base from which to explore these beautiful surroundings. The complex has 106 apartments spread between five large three-story chalets. Having our own self-catering apartment meant we were able to plan our day exactly as we wanted. Comfortable and warm, the chalets have classic mountain interiors with a modern twist. There’s lots of wood, exposed stone and soft warm colours. They are fully equipped with a TV, Wi-Fi, and telephone, and the bathroom comes with a bath, always a blessing after a long active day in the hills. They also have a little kitchen complete with microwave, hob, dishwasher and fridge. The highlight for me though had to be the balcony, on which you can enjoy breakfast or dinner against the stunning backdrop of Mont Blanc.

With the chalets nestling just 600m from the Saisie-Hauteluce resort and ski lifts, it’s an ideal location both for summer and winter. Just a few steps from your front door you can enjoy the charms of this Alpine landscape with sports like paragliding, horse riding, and mountain biking in the summer, or for the winter: ice-climbing, hiking and skijoring, being pulled through the snow by dogs or horses. L’Espace Diamant has 185km of pistes and a good mix of runs for beginners through to black-run daredevils. It earns added points for the fact that the majority of the 1992 Winter Olympics’ cross-country and biathlon events took place here. When your aching leg muscles tell you that you need to take an afternoon off, then it’s worth exploring nearby Hauteluce, a delightful and authentic mountain village. Village life centres around its Baroque church, St Jacques d’Assyrie, and its frescos.

Exhausted, but at the same time invigorated by the physical activity and fresh mountain air, there’s nothing more relaxing than indulging in a daily post-ski sauna in L’Espace Spa & Bien-Etre by Legrange. Add to that a few slow lengths in the indoor swimming pool to stretch out your muscles and a few quiet minutes in the hot tub and you’ll never want to leave this oasis of calm and well-being.

However we spent the day, our evenings always ended the same way: round the table in the living room. One of the things I like about self-catering is that you get to experiment with local ingredients, like the Beaufort and Serac cheeses and the ‘pormoniers’ – a local sausage. If cooking is not your idea of a relaxing way to spend an evening then fear not, the chalets are linked up to a food delivery service offering fresh produce cooked in a sous-vide. With different packages on offer, you can choose standard fare like chicken curry, carrot salad and chocolate mousse...or gastronomic delights of mousakka, foie gras and éclairs. Accompanying it all with a glass of local Beaujolais is obligatory, of course; after all, simple pleasures are what make up the charm of life in the mountains.