Bromont Ski Holidays

Bromont is one of 4 resorts among Quebec’s Eastern Townships - east of magic Montreal and, of the quadruplet, the largest and liveliest. It’s linked to the picture-pretty village of the same name, where locals enjoy the good life. The town is the starting point on the region-wide “Wine Route” and the ways are stuffed with delectable patisseries and bistros. After a day on the hill you can stroll about on Rue Shefford, dropping into fine boutiques, art galleries, even a chocolate museum. If you’re worried about a language barrier, don’t be. English is spoken all over and where it’s not, lovely locals will encourage you through any broken requests for “vin chaud” and “pommes frites”.

Under a blue sky, Bromont sure is a looker, shrouded in thick pine forests, with slopes spanning 3 mountains. But cameras are at their most frenzied at night when half the hill lights up like a Christmas tree for night skiing. This is the resort’s biggest claim to fame - it’s home to the largest lit ski area on the continent, with 98 trails (that’s 75% of the piste map) open every single night till 10pm. And if you come during a Nuit Blanche, you’ll ski until 2am to the tune of live DJs and skiers sashaying in their gear… On an average day you’ll ski all day, dine on fromage and wine, and get back out on the hill again (if you’ve got the legs for it), or sleep late and not feel terrible about missing ski time.

Bromont’s 450 acres span 7 different mountain faces, across 3 mountains (Mont Brome, Mont Spruce and Pic du Chevreuil), a wintery realm of adventure where the runs are named after US and Canadian cities (always fun to find your favourite). Piste bashers whir 22 hours a day here and most runs are groomed twice, meaning corduroy is flawless and hasn’t turned into porridge by the time you come back for night skiing.

A mountain to yourselves never goes amiss for a first-timer, and here Mont Soleil is reserved for beginners, with a magic carpet, 2 quads and lots of pretty trails that run past forest bound condos. Mont Soleil also contains its very own beginner glades, great for introducing yourself to the wonders of tree-skiing early on. The best bit about Bromont is that there are green runs on every one of its 7 faces, and beginners can get a real sense of cruising between them. For a thigh-tester, check out Brome from the summit all the way down to base.

The grooming here means even the black diamonds are manageable, so intermediates have a real smorgasbord of terrain. Most start on the main mountain face, Versant du Village, with the highest 380m vertical. For a bracing start to the day, enjoy the undulating pitch on Cowansville and ramp up the speed on Knowlton, or simply get cruisey on Brome. With 5 other faces to ski next, whether you seek glades and natural snow, poker straight pistes or winding, dipping rollercoasters, ye shall find. And when much of this is open after dark, the adventures can be epic.

As these hills are always so gorgeously groomed, experts in search of adrenaline sometimes come up short. Montreal is a thrill, and the double diamond glades around this run require extreme concentration. Even if you aren’t pushed to your limits here, night skiing this wonderful is worth experiencing. Try visiting during a "Nuit Blanche", hit the slopes till 2am, enjoy the party, then venture out to greater Quebec challenges at local Mont Orford or Mont Tremblant.

Floodlit like the rest of the mountain, up to 5 snow parks offer jibs and jumps for all abilities, making Bromont big with boarders.

Coming here and not night skiing would be like eating the cake and not the icing. People do it, but it will get you funny looks... Once dinner plates are cleared, it’s almost obligatory to clip the skis or board back on and slide till 10. Nuits Blanches are some of the best nights here, when DJs and live songstresses hit the bars, marshmallows toast on open pits and special fun like snow volleyball keeps everyone energetic till 2am. If you’re a dab hand with a drum set, look out for musical instruments lying around for impromptu jam session. To warm you up sufficiently to make musical magic, there are outdoor fireplaces, an ice bar and stiff drinks at La Débarque…

On a non-Nuit Blanche, consider hanging up the skiwear for a few evenings in town. Le Cellier du Roi is known as the best restaurant in the Eastern Townships for dreamy dishes like caramelised scallops and pistachio-crusted lamb and you can head to the Macphereson steakhouse to toast meat on volcanic rock in a historic hotel. The town saves turbo-charged parties for Nuits Blanches, but you can enjoy late night brews with the townsfolk at some great bars and pubs like Pub Macintosh or the Edgar Hyperlodge. Alternatively, hop on the luxury wified shuttle bus for a 60-minute ride to the action in downtown Montreal.

If you’re left feeling frazzled by a few too many late nights, you simply need to slink away to one of the area’s natural spas. Spa Bolton is a world of wellness with Nordic baths, natural waterfalls and often special après rates for Bromonters. If you’re on a health-trip, check out the Balnea Thermal Baths’ Lumami restaurant for “nature” food like rabbit tagine and vegan chocolate mousse.