wandelgids Walking in the Haute Savoie: North

First volume of a 2-part guide to walking in the Haute Savoie in the French Alps. This guidebook covers the area south of Lake Geneva to the Swiss border including Salève, Chablais and the Vallée Verte, with Evian and Morzine among places to stay. 30 walks include local summits and ridges, but generally straightforward terrain.

Seasons
Spring and summer, when the snow has melted and the slopes are bright with alpine flowers; autumn, when the leaves are changing, or even winter for some of the lower walks

Centres
Evian-les-Bains, Morzine, Abondance, Châtel, St-Julien-en-Genevois, Bellevaux, Boège, Habère-Poche

Difficulty
Variety of routes of differing length and height gain, suitable for most abilities, graded from easy to difficult; none require special equipment or expertise, but the few graded difficult have some exposed sections, often protected by cables, and need a head for heights

Must See
Major peaks: Cornettes de Bise, Mont de Grange, Dent d'Oche, Pic Boré Lakes: Geneva, Arvouin, Tavaneuse Cols: Cheséry, Cou, Brétolet Historical attractions: medieval abbeys; numerous small chapels, shrines, stations of the cross and statues on mountain tops; smugglers routes over the French-Swiss border cols Nature reserves; bird migratory routes Geological features: limestone cliffs, gorges and caves (Salève); fault-line and microclimate (Vuache)