Route: Around Abondance
Area: Chablais Alps, France
Date of walk: 16th August 2018
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 11.7 miles
Ascent: 2,650 feet
Weather: Sunny, very hot
On the first day of our walking holiday in the Chablais Alps, organised via Inntravel, we set off on a circular walk from our base in Abondance. The start of the walk was from our hotel, the Hotel de l’Abbaye in the centre of the small town and from here we headed south along the road beside the river. After a short distance we turned off to join a track leading uphill, and from here the next 3 miles or so involved a steady climb, mostly along quiet tarmac tracks. The views of the surrounding mountains improved with every step of the way
Eventually we joined a narrow path and the real climbing began – we were soon puffing and panting, not only on account of the gradient, but due to the temperature, which reached around 30c during the course of the walk
After climbing through meadows and forests we arrived at a ridge which took us to the high point of the walk, the Belair arête at 5,850 feet. This is an idyllic place for a picnic, but we decided to continue a little further on to Chalets de Pertuis, a tiny hamlet with more cows than people, and a very welcoming bench. After refuelling with a wonderful picnic provided by the hotel we started the long downward descent down to valley level, enjoying some superb views along the way
After reaching Les Carres at the valley floor we followed a delightful path alongside the River Dranse back into Abondance. It had been a fantastic introduction to what is a new walking area for us
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A cloudless sky as we look out of our bedroom window at the Hotel de l'Abbaye. Our walk will take us along the Malève valley to the left
We cross the bridge over the River Dranse
Looking back to our hotel, where we are based for two nights
We walk through the streets of Abondance
Out of the town now, we follow a track along the valley floor through Frogy
A little further along the Malève valley we pass by a small chapel at Plan de Charmy
Looking back along the valley as we start to gain height...
A short tarmac section as we fork off at a chapel in St Michel
We join a track, slowly gaining height all the time
Les Poses...
A view back along the Malève valley, with Abondance (out of sight from here) at the far end
An example of the (generally good) waymarking in the area - this shows that we are at Les Fauges at an altitude of 1,230 metres, or 4,000 feet. In this case, we follow the arrow pointing right
We follow the track, ever uphill, past an old wooden chalet
There were hundreds of butterflies along the way - this is just a small sample of our sightings...
A Six Spot Burnet moth
Onwards and upwards
Le Basse at 1,330 metres
We pass by an attractive chalet set in a fenced garden...
Looking back along the track
The path starts to trend east as we pass through some woodland
The shade provides welcome relief from the constant sunshine
We arrive at a small plateau, Chalet de Leschaux at 1,603 metres
There are lovely views along this section of the walk, here looking towards Lac des Plagnes
Looking back along the path as we continue to climb...
The path continues in an easterly direction along the hillside, sometimes through woodland...
Looking back
We arrive at Pertuis, a perfect spot to enjoy the excellent picnic provided by our hotel
Beyond Pertuis we start the very gradual descent back to valley level, sometimes along tracks, and sometimes grassy paths...
We pass by a wooden cross
Chalet les Chosalets
Abondance comes into view through a gap in the trees
Back to valley level, and we follow a path beside the River Dranse
Approaching Abondance
Back to our hotel and the end of our first walk in the Chablais Alps
A perfect end to a perfect day
