Where would be the best place to get a route map for walks in the Grindalwald area of Switzerland? Apoligies for what is maybe a daft question, Im a newbie!
Also looking to do a bit of mountain biking in the area, so if anyone knows of any bike hire shops in the area, that would be great.
Stanfords in Covent Garden carry most of the Swiss topo maps in stock, also hiking guides. It looks like map no. 254T at 50k would do the trick, but please check before you buy ... Stanfords have 25k maps as well.
As Judy says, the Swiss Topo T series maps (yellow cover) are what you want. Walking paths are red - good shoes recommended. Mountain paths are red dashed - boots recommended. Kev Reynolds has recently written a "Tour of the Jungfrau" book for Cicerone and some stages in this would make good day walks. Public transport is good so linear walks are do able.
Mountain biking has taken off recently and there are many official routes but I cant remember the Swiss organisation that marks them. The Grindlewald tourist office will help by e-mail.
You can pick up an artist's impression type of map from any tourist office in the region. They're not topographically accurate but do have all the walks, times and lifts shown. Very useful for planning what you want to do as you can see the type of terrain in which you'll be walking. I have the Topo ones as well but confess I usually use the tourist one.
Most of the Swiss ski resorts are making a big effort to encourage mountain bikers in the summer, in addition to the usual walkers and mountaineers. I can't offhand think of a particular bike shop in Grindelwald but there's bound to be at least one with (good) bike hire. If there's not enough info on the website Wanderlust posted, email the Tourist info directly (in English won't be a problem) and they'll be able to put you in touch with some suitable organisation.
It's fabulous riding around Grindelwald - that whole area and across the Grosse Scheidegge into the Rosenlauital and even Meiringen, if you're keen, have great trails and fantastic scenery.
Yes, Fiona, great trails for riding bikes on: ruined for walkers seeking a mountain experience.
Twenty years ago the trails were typically Alpine; rough, bouldery and, of course, passing through stunning scenery; e.g., the path from Kleine Scheidegge to Wengen. Now, they've all been planed flat; essentially narrow roads without the tarmac . Any car could drive them.
K.S to the Mannlichen is another such. Don't tell me they've also "improved" the path from First to Grosse Scheidegge. I dare say I'll find out in September.
The Swiss will do anything for a franc, sorry, make that a centime and if flattening all the tracks is what it takes to get hundreds of bikers on them, then so be it.
The Oberland is still there but as wilderness, it's a joke.
Fencer - I wouldn't normally be caught dead defending the Swiss but on this occasion, I think, you're a bit out of line. A lot of the main walking paths have been smoothed to make them passable for wheelchairs. That this makes them OK for novice mtbers and family cyclists is another matter. Most of the Swiss mtbers I know and have ridden with make a point of not using those flattened paths - like you say, they're pretty much the same as roads and pretty boring compared to single track. The point is walkers who want a mountain experience are going to have to walk a bit further and NOT RELY ON LIFTS. There's a fabulous route from Grosse Scheidegge, up to a high hut in the side of the Rosenlaui valley then over the back past the Wetterhorn. The only assist you'll get from Grindelwald is the bus to Grosse Scheidegge, then you'll have to descend anyway to pick up the start of the trail. Likewise, there's loads of fantastic paths at the back of the First area, but you have to go beyond the tourist routes. The other thing is just to avoid honey pots like Grindelwald, Wengen etc. which cater for tourists and go to smaller places, off the tourist trail. I spend a reasonable amount of time around Meiringen, which has to be one of the most manicured ski areas and the walking is likewise manicured around the area but that doesn't mean that there aren't superb hikes to be had by going further afield - take a bus out of town first thing etc., but it does mean that you have to go beyond the easy access afforded by using the lifts.
I really don't have patiance with people who complain about changes to the places they're used to going as if they were the only reason for these places' existance. Having taken disabled kids out walking/wheelchairing around places they didn't used to be able to go, I'm quite happy to give up paths around nice touristy places so thatmore people can experience the, because I know even in small and crowded Switzerland, there are plenty of places where I can walk for a week and see no more of civilisation than crossing a few high alps with their summer barns and electric fences.
... Stanfords have 25k maps as well.
