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Ignoring the French side of the border, the normal route of approach is from the small industrial town of Monthey in the Rhône valley, from where a sinuous road writhes its way southwestward through the lower Val d’Illiez, at first between vineyards, then among chestnut and walnut trees to a junction on the outskirts of Troistorrents. The left fork is the one to take for Champéry (see ssss1), while the Morgins branch climbs a series of hairpins with retrospective views of the Dents du Midi and the Dent de Morcles on the far side of the Rhône’s valley.

Having gained Val de Morgins the road then runs easily along the north bank of the Vièze de Morgins stream among alpine meadows and pinewoods, passing a minor road branching left (a pleasant cross-country route to Val d’Illiez) to gain the resort of Morgins at 1305m.

Spread across the meadows, the dark timber chalets, shops, campsite and two hotels (the Beau-Site and La Reine des Alpes) of this modest resort suggest a base for holidays of an undemanding nature. There are two chairlifts and two low-level skilifts, a climbing wall and some 800km of marked paths. In winter the extensive, but comparatively low ski area of Portes du Soleil that spreads across the border, gives access to 650km of pistes with 207 lifts (www.portesdusoleil.com), while cross-country skiing and snowshoe routes are also available, and at least 12km of footpaths are kept open. The Office du Tourisme (www.morgins.ch) located on Place du Carillon near the Foilleuse chairlift opposite the village church, produces a wealth of useful brochures and leaflets, although many of these refer to the French side of the border, and there’s a handy footpath map available at a scale of 1:33,333: Carte des Sentiers à Pied et à Cheval.