Ski Wengen

Across the valley, the atmospheric village of Mürren clings to a high mountain shelf, overlooking the same valley in reverse, with inspirational but more distant views of the Jungfrau and Mönch. No wonder that in an area often spoken of as the most important “cradle” of skiing, two of the oldest ski clubs in the world sprang up on opposite sides of this valley: The Kandahar in Mürren, and the Down Hill Only (DHO) in Wengen. Both are still going strong, as is the spectacular annual Inferno race down to Lauterbrunnen from Mürren Schilthorn (2971m – just shy of 9,750ft - and home to Mürren's famous revolving restaurant).

Wengen (accessed by mountain railway, and the location for the celebrated Lauberhorn World Cup downhill) and Mürren are both car-free. Grindelwald is a small town, and apart from its well-known links with Wengen, it has an impressive ski area of its own, called First (pronounced as in Fierst). Even though it means taking time away from the slopes, the extraordinary journey by train through the very north face of the Eiger to the highest railway station in the Alps, at the Jungfraujoch, is an unmissable experience. Although it’s unlikely that you’ll even begin to exhaust the extensive linked area of Grindelwald and Wengen, you can even take the train down to Lauterbrunnen and access the Mürren slopes via a mix of cable car and train – or indeed, vice versa. The Jungfrau “whole area” pass covers all three resorts and also includes the 'First Flyer' zipwire in Grindelwald and discounted entrance to the new 'Ice Magic' ice skating experience in Interlaken.

The idyllic village of Wengen lies high up on a sunny, sheltered terrace with spectacular views, dominated by that magnificent trio of peaks – the Eiger (Ogre), Mönch (Monk) and Jungfrau (Maiden) – which provide a magnificent backdrop to Mürren and Wengen, and in part to Grindelwald, all of which enjoy genuinely superb in-your-face scenery. The local area pass covers Wengen and Grindelwald, whilst the Jungfrau whole area pass also covers Mürren, on the other side of the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Take the cable-car from Wengen village centre, which links to Grindelwald’s ski area or take the mountain railway to the Kleine Scheidegg where both ski areas meet. Skiers of all grades will delight in the expanse of pistes and beautiful scenery. The Eigergletscher station and Salzegg lift access a handful of black runs, like Oh God! and Black Rock.