If you are looking for something to do then Chatel and the Lake Geneva region has plenty on offer.

Summer: Apart from Chatel’s bars, shops and restaurants there is the ‘Fantasticable’, comprising of 2 cables over 2000 metres long and slung between two mountains. Once harnessed up you can experience the feeling of flying as you travel at over 60 miles an hour. Or try the 600 metre ‘Bob Luge’, a man made, all season mini Cresta run suitable for all ages. In summer months, mountain biking (VTT), golf, tennis, horse riding and white water rafting are very popular. Chatel has its own outdoor pool with fabulous views as well as an indoor bowling alley.

For those who enjoy the great outdoors at a more leisurely pace, then the area is awash with marked paths of various lengths and difficulties. In summer about 25 chair lifts take you to Alpine meadows to enjoy the amazing views and appreciate the wonderful alpine flowers, animals and birds. Views include those over Lake Geneva, down into the Rhone Valley across the peaks to Mont Blanc.

A short drive (35/40 mins) takes you to Lake Geneva with its wide promenade. Numerous towns dot this huge lake and it couldn’t be easier getting around than by the old paddle steamers. All have attractions worth seeing, Lausanne and the Olympic museum, Montreaux and its shops and Jazz Festival, Evian with beautiful promenades and the Nautica aqua park, not forgetting Geneva itself. Beautiful Yvoire is a must. All around the lake there are public beaches and the lake water is crystal clear. Whilst the water is no colder than in the UK there are 2 thermal pool complexes within a short drive. In particular the beautiful baths at the Grand Hotel in Lavey, (www.lavey-les-bains.ch), in the Rhone Valley has an amazing array of pools, spas, Jacuzzis, Turkish baths, steam rooms and beautiful warm water for all year round bathing. A wonderful and relaxing day out.

Castle Chillon on the lake edge used to control the invading hordes but is now a major visitor attraction, whilst the Panorama train from Montreaux will take you up through the Bernese Oberland, stop off in Gstaad and see how the other half live. The area is dotted with other attractions.

Winter: The winter skiing is superb. The area has a terrific snow record and the 6 French and 6 Swiss villages forming the Portes du Soleil, complete with their 650 runs comprising of 289k of groomed pistes. The area has 208 lifts and with heights of up to 2300m (7500ft) they are guaranteed to keep even the keenest skier happy. Snow boarders and skiers alike are catered for. All equipment and instruction can be hired’.