Summer in the Alps: why it's so more than just a winter destination - huge range of activities on offer for all ages, abilities, interests

La Bourgeoise - a short walk with stunning views - maximum reward for minimum effort!

The walk to Refuge Alfred Wills, also known as Refuge d'Anterne, starts at Le Lignon and the first part of the route is the same for both the Alfred Wills and Sales walks. Also in common with the route to Refuge de Sales, the entire walk is within the Sixt-Passy National Nature Reserve, which covers some 9,000 ha ranging in elevation from 900 m up to more than 3,000m. The diversity of the environment within the reserve means it supports a wide variety of fauna and flora and t

The Giffre river is a couple of minutes walk from the chalet and we often walk along the marked riverside trail to Samoëns, particularly on Wednesday mornings, when it's market day. If you turn back at the bridge over the Giffre, it also makes a perfect 5km loop for a short run too. The views up and down river are stunning with the distinctive peak and ridge line of the Marcelly to the west and Criou and Mont Buet to the east. However, the other day I decided to wander in th

This summer we decided to head up to Refuge du Grenairon for an overnight stay with friends. We've stayed in quite a few of the local refuges but had heard that the views from Grenairon were something else.. The location of the refuge really is stunning with views of Mont Blanc, Rochers des Fiz, Pointe de Sales and the Anterne valley. The walk starts from the hamlet of Salvagny, which is reached by turning right in Sixt in the direction of Cascade du Rouget. The walk up is va

Turn right over the bridge in Sixt, following signs for the Cascade du Rouget and carry on up past the waterfall until the road ends at Le Lignon. Park here, or as close as you can get, as it gets very busy in Summer and at weekends. The entire walk is within the Sixt-Passy National Nature Reserve, which covers some 9,000 ha ranging in elevation from 900 m up to more than 3,000m. The diversity of the environment within the reserve means it supports a wide variety of fauna a

There are so many stunning walks near the chalet that it's pretty hard to reduce it to a shortlist but the list below are the walks that we return to time and time again and the ones that I highlight when guests ask for recommendations - I've not had any complaints yet! They're all day walks but it's possible to stay overnight at the refuges, which makes for a great adventure for young children. I will gradually be adding descriptions and photos for all these walks to the sit