Think of property in Spain, and most people imagine a sun-soaked seaside villa with a glimmering blue pool.

But as the beachside builds up and cheap flights branch out from the Costa del Sol, British buyers are heading inland — and not just in search of sun.

Spain may not be as famous for its snow as France or Switzerland, but its skiing properties offers year-round use. Buy a place in Andalusia’s Sierra Nevada for skiing, and chances are you will use it in summer, too, as a mountain base a short drive from Granada and two hours from the coast.

There are drawbacks: in mid- January, when the Pyrenees were covered in the white stuff and there was a good covering in the Alps, the only snow in Sierra Nevada was being manufactured by machines. A ski resort without snow is a bit like a wedding without a bride — but on the other hand, it is the southernmost ski area in Europe, so you are almost guaranteed to go home with a suntan. You can ski in the morning and sunbathe in the afternoon, so it is ideal for beginners and children.

Sue Penfold, a PE teacher from Nottingham, grew up skiing here when her father bought a flat in the area and continues to head south. “It is Spain’s little secret,” she says. “The flights work well for a weekend break. I arrive at Malaga airport with my skis instead of my golf clubs, and people look at me as if I’m mad.”

Penfold’s sister Samantha lives in nearby Marbella, and the two drive up to the Sierra Nevada in about two hours. Since their father sold up in the 1980s, the property market has seen a lot of changes.

“When they were hosting the World Ski Championships in 1995 they built roads and lots more apartments. The drive from Granada at the bottom of the hill was cut from three hours to half an hour,” she says. Not for the first time lack of snow scuppered the plans. The championships were postponed, to 1996, but at least the infrastructure was ready.

For Brits, another piece of infrastructure is now in place. Ryanair has just started direct flights from Stansted to Granada. From freezing Essex to sunny Andalusia in less than two hours for about £50 return; it doesn’t take Mystic Meg to predict that it will help boost the already booming property market.

James Mckay is one Brit looking to make an investment by buying an apartment in either Sierra Nevada or Granada itself. At the age of 19, he has decided the south of Spain is the place to be. “I’m going to get a job, in a bar or perhaps working with a local estate agency,” he says. “It’s great here, bars on every corner, pretty girls, great food.” Mckay is learning Spanish and spends his weekends skiing. The kind of flat he is looking for, a one-bedroom with kitchen and sitting room, will cost him about £100,000 in the resort itself, according to Gary Elmer, a local agent who moved to Spain just over a year ago.

Much of Spain has an air of being half-built in a hurry and Sierra Nevada is no exception. The apartments are plentiful but lack charm, and there are buildings in all shapes and styles. “There are several builds in progress offering a choice of two or three bedrooms close to the piste for between £70,000 and £170,000,” says Elmer. They are concrete buildings and will probably be extremely comfortable (some advertise indoor swimming pools and spas), but will do nothing to increase the lure of the town. There is a row of chalets along one road in Sierra Nevada and one wonders why the town planners didn’t look at how well they worked before giving permission for the concrete jungle that has emerged.

But people will always flock to a ski resort, and especially one that offers so much sunshine. In addition, according to Rupert Windle from Property Net Spain, the rental potential went up hugely due to the new Ryanair flights: “There are a number of towns a short distance away from the ski resort and properties are still relatively cheap compared with the Spanish costa regions. Properties here are likely to become attractive as second homes with rental potential, because the new flights to Granada mean you can be skiing in the Sierra Nevada within an hour of landing.”

You shouldn’t limit your search to Sierra Nevada itself if you’re looking to buy. A cheaper and more attractive option would be to go to the bottom of the hill where you can find an apartment for less than £70,000. “People should think about villages down below the resort like Pinos Genil,” says Elmer. “You can get to the slopes in 20 minutes and you’re only five minutes from Granada. A three-bedroom town house in Pinos Genil between Granada and Sierra Nevada will only cost you around £100,000.” Pinos Genil is more charming than Sierra Nevada, with a feeling of old Spain about it, although this looks likely to change as more people cotton on to the fact that the slopes are only a short drive away.

Although lower in altitude, higher in social standing is Baqueira Beret in the northwest Catalan Pyrenees. This is where Spain’s royal family goes skiing, along with many other Spanish celebrities. It is generally perceived as the best resort in Spain in terms of the amount of runs and quality of skiing. And, of course, black runs are a little more enticing when you might fall over on top of a king.

Times recommends

• Second homes: credit crunch casualty or money-spinner?
• How I built my own sliding house
• Top 10 incentives for house buyers