Remember to take time to visit some spectacular places in this region over the Christmas holiday. If you have a recommendation of a new place to visit or walk to take, please send us a photo and some details to include.
Directions for a walk to Bois de la Bâtie over the Junction:
Pass under the Pont de Sous-Terre, to the terminus of mouette line #6, which offers tourists a scenic 2½ hour trip down the Rhône. On the opposite side is a veritable cliff, which also has many pleasant trails along the bank. There are many benches where you can watch the river flow by, shaded by grand old trees. You will see a few row boats tied up here, the river becoming open to the public from this point on.
On your left are massive barns and in front you can see a very high bridge for trains (and pedestrians).
Another 300m or so and you will reach the junction of the Rhône and Arve rivers. You will notice that the Rhône (which is clear blue) is much swifter, and pushes into the Arve (muddy brown) with enough force to cause tiny whirlpools, above which alert ducks hover hoping to catch fish caught in the swirls.
Beyond the railroad bridge is a scene devoid of any trappings of civilization, more or less as it must have been eons ago. But now go back along the Arve side. Pass in front of the Canoe Club to find a path along the bank, this side is less developed, so be careful with youngsters, because there is no guard rail.
You will now come to a small wall requiring a bit (but just a bit) of climbing, then a pedestrian bridge across the Arve to the Bois de la Bâtie. Go up to the bridge along a tiny dirt path, and then - great for the youngsters - a few rungs to climb to reach the wooden deck of the bridge. In the middle, you will most always see a few fishermen.
After a busy period of end-of year activities, and even busier start-of-year preparations, many people often feel lacking in energy at this time of the year, unable to spring into life as the warmer weather arrives.
It’s at this point that you need to consider taking some time out for yourself, leaving your busy life and “to do” list behind. So what better idea than to head on a local mountain retreat where you can literally “drop into your body”, move, stretch, explore nature and the natural environment, and most importantly relax and unwind?
Tanya Perret is a mountain guide and Yoga teacher with her own small business called Live Breath Hike, which offers just that: weekend retreats for anyone living within a few hours of the Vallée Brevon in France. Since Geneva is only an hour’s drive from this region, her retreats are ideally located for anyone here wishing to recharge their batteries and experience some time out.
