Route: Pontresina to Silvaplana
Area: Eastern Swiss Alps
Date of walk: 19th January 2015
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 12.6 miles
Weather: Sunny, deep snow, -2C
Once again we were staying at the wonderful Hotel Albris in Pontresina, which we’ve come to love thanks to the friendly staff, delicious food, and great location – it’s faultless
We left our hotel early in the morning and walked down to the railway station, where we joined a waymarked path to St Moritz Dorf. The hiking paths in the area are all well maintained and signposted, and it was easy walking through the woods into St Moritz. We wandered around the town for a while and succumbed to the temptation of hot chocolate with whipped cream, and a slice of cake
We needed to walk off all the calories so decided to carry on as far as Silvaplana and when we arrived we went down to the partially frozen lake which was looking beautiful
The Swiss transport system is very efficient and it wasn’t long before the bus arrived and took us back to Pontresina
The whole walk was a joy – as good as it gets
Click on the icon below for the route map
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
The day before the walk, we travelled to our destination on the Bernina Express - one of the great railway journeys of the world
The line has UNESCO World Heritage status
We pass over the famous Landwasser viaduct and then into a tunnel through the cliff
Looking out of the back window of the last carriage
The scenery is stunning throughout the whole journey - this is Bergun
Dawn next morning, the view from our hotel window - time for a walk
We walk through Pontresina
Fresh snow is all around
We follow a waymarked path through the woods towards Lej da Staz
Looking along the valley before we cross the railway line to the left
Back in the woods and heading towards Lej da Staz
Walking in a winter wonderland
The frozen Lej da Staz
We follow a path round the edge of the lake
We round a corner and St Moritz comes into view
The frozen lake of St Moritz
The lake of St Moritz
Time for a cake stop
Leaving St Moritz
We gain height and look back over the lake
We leave the road to join a waymarked trail towards Silvaplana
Heading down into the village of Champfer
Walking through Champfer
San Rochus Church
Back in the woods and heading towards Silvaplana
Above the Lej da Champfer
Further along this delightful path
The village of Surlej with Piz Surlej towering over it
Silvaplana and its partially frozen lake
We arrive in Silvaplana but before catching the bus back to Pontresina we decide to walk down to the lake
The lake of Silvaplana
We walked along a short section of the lakeshore before heading back into the town
A final look across the lake
