Snow may have closed schools and caused mayhem on the roads, but for skiers the recent falls were a gift from the heavens, turning local parks into mini ski slopes. What most didn't realise was that had they ventured into areas of northern England, they would've found a handful of little-known ski centres each offering up to a mile of skiable terrain.

One of the largest is Swinhope Moor in Weardale, County Durham (01388 527527; skiweardale.co.uk), which began in 1963 and is run by the Weardale Ski Club, comprising 14 volunteers. These include a fireman who works at the club in his spare time, and a retired mechanic. They're up there in the summer cutting the rushes, and in the winter manning the two button lifts and the piste basher. There are seven pisted runs, off-piste slopes and a gully with jumps and ledges.

Steve Lumb, a GP and chairman of the committee, says the conditions have never been better. "It's like how it was in the 1970s: there's just so much snow. In recent years it would just melt away once the snowfalls stopped, but not this season. I'm running out of superlatives to describe the outstanding conditions we're experiencing." Last weekend, more than 600 people skied at Swinhope, the most the club has ever seen.

In Cumbria, Yad Moss (01228 561634; yadmoss.co.uk), England's biggest ski centre, is also having a record year. "Last year we were open just eight days," says Euan Cartwright, one of the volunteers from Carlisle Ski Club, which runs the slope, "but this year we're looking to smash our all-time record. We've already been open for 35 days, and with a three-foot packed base, it'll be a long time before that melts."

Ten years ago the club received a lottery grant which funded a piste basher and button lift, giving access to a half-mile descent. "It may not be Val d'Isère, but it's more than enough for some skiers," says Euan. Around 500 people visited Yad Moss last weekend. "A family's coming up from Bristol this week for a three-day half-term break. They're staying in a local hotel and skiing here every day," says Euan.

Cumbria is also home to one of the country's oldest ski clubs. In 1936 a group of enthusiastic skiers were looking for places to ski in the Lake District. The best area was found to be on Raise, near Helvellyn, and early members proceeded to build a rope tow. Today, Raise (015395 35456; ldscsnowski.co.uk), which is still run by volunteers, has a modern button lift giving access to seven runs (there is a piste map on the website), which includes some steep runs for more advanced skiers.

Advanced or not, anyone can ski at these centres: day passes and season tickets are available, and equipment can be hired from local ski shops. A light sprinkling was forecast at all three centres this weekend, and temperatures should remain cold, so half-term week should be superb. Check the information lines for weather updates.

• Day passes: Weardale, adults £15, 10-17 years £10, under-10s £5; Yad Moss, adults £15, under-16s £8; Raise, £7 per person.