The little town of Leysin is best reached by cog-rail from the town of Aigle on the valley floor. This monument of Swiss engineering, built in 1901, has worked every day since and has never broken down. As with most Swiss engineering it is totally reliable, like the conventional rail network of the country: always on time, always clean and always where you want them to be.
 
Leysin was, in its heyday, home to those suffering from TB. Many of the sanatoria which were built in that era later became hotels, notably the Grand Hotel whose decayed elegance sadly dreams of days gone by.
 
The hills and valleys are perfect for walks, and whether rambling across the meadows or on a guided walk, the surroundings are breathtaking. Even in summer the mountain tops have snow and occasional rumbles from high up the slopes testify to the ever present possibility of avalanches. Every sort of walker is catered for here, ranging from those of limited ability to the dedicated.