Читать книгу The Swiss Alps онлайн

90 страница из 176

With its ease of access and unrestricted views, the broad Portes du Soleil ridge is understandably popular year-round. There are paths, tracks and pistes, restaurant facilities and no shortage of accommodation. At Champoussin above Val d’Illiez, the 3-star Hotel Royal Alpage Club has 131 beds (www.royalalpageclub.com), while the less ostentatious Auberge Chez Gaby has 33 beds in 11 rooms (www.chezgaby.ch). Directly above Champéry, Les Crosets has the 3-star Hotel Télécabine (www.hotel-telecabine.com), and the 54-bed Hotel des Portes du Soleil (www.hotel-portes-du-soleil.com). Each of these makes the most of a magnificent panoramic view across the valley, while outline suggestions for walks on the ridge, from which even more extensive views are had, were given under the Val de Morgins sub-chapter ssss1.

At the head of the valley, about 11km from Champéry, but reached by track and footpath from Grand-Paradis, an open basin of pastureland lies at the foot of the Dents Blanches at an altitude of almost 1500m. This is the Barme alpage, also known as Barmaz, an utterly charming plateau almost completely enclosed by mountains and sliced with streams. Two rustic mountain inns provide accommodation and refreshments: Cantine de Barmaz, which has 50 places in dorms and bedrooms (tel 024 479 11 63); and Cantine des Dents Blanches which is open from the end of May to the beginning of October with 40 dorm places (www.barmaz.com). Nearby, on the edge of woodland overlooking the pastures, a small number of b&b places are available between June and September at Chalet Bicolet (tel 024 471 14 25).