Tuesday 30 June 2009

Cabane Les Choucas above Chateau d'Oex


A wonderful panaroma looking towards Gstaad from the tiny private cabane of Les Choucas a couple of hours above Chateau d'Oex. The views sweep over the whole of the Pays d' Enhaut and the mountains to the south.

To get there we had to turn off the main trail going towards Pointe de Cray at a sign-post. We then followed a narrow track with a few ladders and short chains for just over 30 mins before reaching the cabane.

The cabane only holds 12 people in a dormitory (CHF 18 for bed and CHF 12 for breakfast). You can get hot and cold drinks, some snack stuff, but dinner is raclette or more raclette (traditional swiss cheese dish)! Didn't see any showers, but the toilets have views to die for!!

The hut is open at weekends only May-June and September-October. In the peak summer months of July and August it is open all the time. Do check with the friendly owner Albert Zulauff on 026 924 7940 before heading up.


Monday 29 June 2009

B 'n B in Chateau d'Oex


Les Chambres d'hôtes du Berceau is just a wonderful B'nB (bed
and breakfast) in the beautiful village of Chateau d'Oex.

It is part of a working farm with 4 double rooms and 1 family
room. The rooms are large with 2 single beds and attached toilet and shower.

The highlights for us has to be the food - the wonderful home made
dinner for CHF 20 consisting of salad, a delicious rosti and desert
followed the next morning by breakfast consisting of home made
bread (baked the previous night), the local L'Etivaz cheese, home
made jam (some 250 bottles are made each year!), coffee and
orange juice.

Bed and Breakfast is CHF 50 per person per night - well worth it
for the food and the very welcoming Mrs. Armelle Morier.

A great experience in a great part of Switzerland.

Contact details: 026 924 72 44 or 076 526 99 85.

Broadening out - Huts, Hotels and Hikes


I had initially started this blog to share my impressions and experience of mountain huts in the Swiss and French Alps. I soon realised that most of my hikes were in the Swiss Alps (easier to reach by public transport). The second realisation was that whilst hiking we also stayed in basic hotels in small mountain villages. The third realisation was that we hiked to or from huts and hotels, and that would be natural to share thoughts on these hikes too. So the new title of my blog - Hikes, Huts & Hotel in the Alps.

Note: Image of Pointe de Cray, Vanil-Carre, Pointe de Paray above Chateau d'Oex.

Monday 8 June 2009

Refuge Bonavau - Tél. : 079 205 50 23



Pretty little chalet that is about a 1.5 hours uphill walk from Champery. They only have a couple of dormitories with mattresses on the floor, capacity about 16 people. When we visited there wasn't a shower - maybe they have added one since. Good dinner and breakfast portions.

It's a great place to start either the Tour des Dents du Midi (3 days) or the Tour des Dents Blanches or if coming from the other way a picturesque final rest stop before heading down to Champery. The owner and the staff (2 young ladies) are friendly, the food is decent (warm toast and home made jam made for a good breakfast). Great view of the Val d'Illiez and the Dents du Midi - specially the walk to Cabane de Susanfe.

Wednesday 3 June 2009

La Vare - 024 463 44 12 (between June and October)


This pretty private refuge lies at the start of a majestic u-shaped valley between Pont de Nant and Anziende on the Tour des Muverans hike. We stopped here on the last day of our hike round the Muverans for the most delicious thick and creamy home-made soup. The best ever! (It helps if you are also very tired and soaking wet...)


The place is very inviting with dormitory arrangements in a low stone building (13 places) or yurt (8 places) and even a chance to sleep on hay bales (20 places). Lovely location with plenty of entertainment for the kids - donkey, see-saw, swings, petanque.


Check out the prices and other information from their website: http://www.alpagedelavare.ch/4595.html