Zurich is undeniably hot and sunny as I drive out of the airport at the start of my 1,kilometre Grand Tour of Switzerland. You can take the Grand Tour of Switzerland in either direction, but as this is after all, the country of clocks, I thought it more fitting to go in a clockwise direction.
After a pit stop for lunch in the delightful hamlet of Kleinandelfingen, we make our first stop at the Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen. The huge expanse of Lake Constance dominates our view now as we drive along the lake shore before turning off towards St. Gallen and our first glimpses of Alpine peaks patiently waiting in the distance.. The Heidi fountain in the village of Maienfeld is testament to that.
This quite stunning spa resort, still served by the centuries-old hot spring coming down from the nearby Tamina Gorge, is a haven of five star wellness; all-suite guestrooms, five lavish restaurants, a huge spa and medical centre, a casino, 18 hole championship golf course and a Porsche or a Harley for the exclusive use of its guests!
With a quite magical first day and night under our belts, our Grand Tour route takes us up into the mountains. These famous slopes, echoing in winter from skiers and snowboarders are silent save the comforting clang of bells from cows grazing on the lush alpine grass. Drop dead tasty barley soup the local specialty with just the view for company. As we drop down from the summit we enter the Swiss National Park, a place where the natural landscape is fiercely protected.
Moritz , just 40 k away. They say the sun shines for days here, and I swear even the air smells classy. We are instead, making for Silvaplana, just next door, to the Nira Alpina Hotel , perched right next to Mount Corvatsch.
