Mont Blanc

At 4,810m, Mont Blanc is Europe’s highest mountain. Chamonix is the mountaineers favoured starting point. Of the various routes to the summit, the most popular is the Gouter Route; in fact, it is so popular that you must pre-book overnight hut accommodation. Less popular is the Cosmiques Route due to its extremely steep terrain in parts. However, climbers can enjoy the spectacular scenery away from the crowds.

Non-climbers can ascend 3,842m to the Aiguille du Midi by cable car to enjoy the wonderful views.

The Chamonix area is a haven for wintersports whilst, in the summer, you can hike, ride or raft.

Rhone Valley

The River Rhone rises at the Rhone Glacier in Switzerland, joins the River Saone in Lyon and then runs south past Vienne and Avignon.

At Arles, it divides, both the Grand and Petit Rhone flowing to the west of Marseille and forming a two branched delta – the marshy ground between is of course the Camargue. 500 miles long, the Rhone has long been used to transport people and goods.

Although heavily industrialised in places, particularly around Lyon, the Rhone Valley is perhaps best known for its wine production. The Romans first planted vines here in the first century. Nowadays, about 90% of the Rhone Valley wines come from the southern part of the valley, and include familiar names such as Cotes du Rhone and Chateauneuf du Pape

The Northern Rhone produces quite different wines and, although in smaller quantities, the quality is superb, in particular, Hermitage and Cote-Rotie.