Chalet

Parking for the chalet is just off the road in the spaces marked "Privé" on the right when driving uphill, just before a "50" speed sign. It is shared with the neighbouring chalet below. The chalet is a few metres off the road on the right with a small group of trees in front of it, partially blocking the view from the road.

The chalet is surrounded by meadow in the summer that is covered by snow in December-April and flowers in June. There may be sheep or cows in September but they are fenced off.

The chalet has one double bedroom, bathroom and living area on the main floor, with a room above with beds. The sofa also doubles as a sofa bed.

Downstairs is a separate apartment with twin bedded bedroom, bathroom, living room with sofa bed and kitchen.

There is underfloor heating on the main floor and in the apartment (thermostatic control in three zones per floor). There are woodburning stoves for accent heat or a first night blast of heat during winter, and a radiator on the top floor.

Towels and Bedding: Enough for all guests. Bedding is usually kept in the same room as the bed. Towels on top floor.

Washing: There is a washing machine and tumble dryer in the downstairs apartment. This works on a separate electrical circuit which is unavailable for a few hours at lunchtime and early evening when power demand is highest. The washing machine will restart once it has power.

Shutters: Need to be fastened shut and open securely at all times as the wind can be very gusty and strong. You can leave them open and fastened for your whole stay unless it's particularly cold.

TV and Internet: The TV is not in a great place at the moment so please don't leave the window behind it open so there isn't an accident! Underneath the TV is the 5G Router - we'll send the password. There is also a Sony PS5 which can play 4k and BluRay etc - some DVDs are upstairs on the top floor.

Larder: as you come into the main floor, you pass through a food and drink store which you are welcome to use. 

Refuse: Official white/red refuse sacks must be used to throwaway household rubbish. Throwing away in any other refuse sacks will result in an tracing of the rubbish inside back to the chalet and a fine - I know - Switzerland eh? Recycles glass and plastic can be stored in the entrance larder until we deal with it. Unfortunately the nearest refuse point is about 1km up the road at the far end of Branche d'en Haut (shown on Google map below).

The chalet lies in the picturesque French speaking Val Ferret, which rises to the Italian border to the south in the Valais Canton of Switzerland. There is no through road, so it tends to be a quiet farming valley - except for the long distance footpath of the Tour Mont Blanc that passes through its length. This is a popular circular route through France, Italy and Switzerland that usually takes about ten days to complete in stages.

The chalet is in the small hamlet of Branche d'en Bas.

Down the valley from the chalet lies Orsières, terminus of the railway and bus connection hub for the region. There is a Tourist Office, bank (ATM) and a bakery and couple of small supermarkets.

La Fouly lies further up the valley beyond the chalet and is a ski station during the winter months, and a popular camping destination in the summer. The is a small (but not cheap) supermarket for essentials, tourist office and ATM. With the Saint-Bernard PASS, I recommend the Sentier Suspendu in La Fouly for a laugh. 

A regular bus service (272 to Ferret) runs up the valley from the railway station in Orsières, past the road in front of the chalet, on to La Fouly and beyond - to the small hamlet of Ferret in the summer. The request bus stop is a few hundred metres beyond the chalet - the stop is Praz-de-Fort, Branche d'en-Bas, shown on the onboard display). If you don't have a PASS or ticket in your app, you will need cash.

It is usually worth buying a PASS Saint-Bernard for bus travel as it is cheaper makes travel in the local area free and allows you to use the chairlifts for free too - also swimming pools and other attractions. This can be bought at the Tourist Office within the station building in Orsières or the La Fouly tourist office at the foot of the ski slope. You'll need a letter from us.

The resort of Champex Lac is reached by bus from Orsieres - the bus departure times are designed to connect with each other and the trains - SBB mobile app allows you to plan journeys easily. Request Stops: Champex, piscine for the heated open air swimming pool and tennis (free with PASS), then two minutes later Champex, Lac for the town and a couple of minutes later Champex, télé is the ski lift station.

It is definitely worth a visit. It's a pleasant spot with a lake to walk round, or take advantage of half an hour free boating activities per day with your PASS. (We liked the stand up paddle so much we bought one to keep at the chalet!). 

You could walk back to the chalet from Champex in a few hours but the bus is much easier.

From the Ski lift, you can go up to La Breya, a nice café and base for walks and, for extra money, a Zip line.

Verbier is not included on the PASS, but you can buy a rail ticket Orsieres-La Chable, then on by cable car to the centre of Verbier. Posh shops and see how the other half live.

• Good Map

Make sure you have good non-slip soles and layers of clothing. Weather in the mountains changes quickly and wet paths are slippery. 

The Tour Mont Blanc (TMB) is a big draw for many backing walkers and it's good to walk sections. 

The following walks build up in difficulty. Note that the snow lingers until late July in the high mountains.

1. Circular from the chalet: Head up the road, across the road bridge into Branche d'en Haut. Follow the yellow walking signs (which are indispensable as a guide for walking in Switzerland) down the track to the right to a bridge. Turn right to follow the TMB painted markers and signs. This path rises with dramatic drops to cross a gully (hold on to the provided chains). Loose rock underfoot, but great view across the valley back to the chalet. Continue along the TMB until you come to a junction of footpaths. Turn right along the wooded ridge, still following the TMB. Descend to the road and cross the bridge. Through the tunnel (take care - there is a footpath in the tunnel but be careful on the road). Return up hill to the chalet along the old road.

2. La Fouly - Chalet: Take the bus to La Fouly and follow the TMB route down the valley to the vehicle bridge in Branche d'en Haut that you crossed in the above walk. Cross the river and follow the road to the chalet. You can extend the walk by taking the bus to Ferret. Also there are nice short circular walks in La Fouly.

3. Lacs Fenetre: Bus to Ferret or park at Les Ars. Well signposted walk up to a beauty spot, and optional extension to Swiss/Italian border. Risk of Snow until July.

4. La Breya to Cabane d'Orny: From the top of the Champex chairlift follow the yellow signed path to Cabane d'Orny, where refreshments are available. Return to the chairlift the way you came.

Technically, the chalet lies within a nature reserve - no dogs off leads or drones. Lynx and wolves are in the woods across the road, but you would be lucky to see one!

To get into the really wildlife refuge, you would need to walk into the roadless Combe de l'A

Wolf Presence:

• Valais Wolf Indicators

With a car, there are numerous day trips - suggestions include:

• Spa baths: Les Bains des Saillon

• Verbier

• Montreux and lakeside

• Aoste in Italy via the Saint Bernard Pass (or tunnel in winter)

• Chamonix in France