The North West has been named as the third best region of the UK for winter sports, according to new research.
Blacks, the outdoor clothing outlet, looked at a range of factors in the study including the number of ski slopes, ice rinks and average number of snow days.
The number one region was Scotland, with 173 indoor and outdoor ski slopes combined and an average of 21.4 days with snow on the ground every year.
With 16 ice rinks as well, the study gave Scotland an overall score of 10/10.
Coming in second was the South East of England, with 18 indoor and outdoor slopes, 11 ice rinks and just 4.6 days with snow on the ground each year.
Blacks gave the South East a score of 9.64/10.
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They said the score was because the region has one of the highest number of slopes in the UK – with three at Snowzone Milton Keynes, the longest being 175 metres.
The worst region of the UK for winter sports was Northern Ireland, with just 2 ski slopes, 1 ice rink and 9.5 days of snow.
The study gave Northern Ireland a score of 4.17/10.
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The North West of England came third with a score of 9.10/10.
Blacks said this was down to it having 20 slopes, 3 ice rinks and an average number of 11.5 days with snow on the ground every year.
Chill Factore in Manchester is one of these, and has the longest indoor ski slope in the UK at 180 metres in length.
Lancashire has no shortage of ski slopes either, boasting the Rossendale Ski Resort and Pendle Ski Club.
