After six consecutive weekends of reporting on the events in Les Deux Alpes and Alpe d’Huez, we decided it was time to hit the road and escape for the day. Within an hour’s drive of our area are some beautiful sites. We prefer to stay out of the city when possible so have a great choice of mountains, valleys, fields, forests, rivers and lakeside beaches to explore.

We had to drop a friend at Grenoble airport so set off into the Chartreuse Region for the day. We stopped for lunch at Lac Paladru then made our way through the enchanting forests of the Chartreuse regional park up to the museum and monastery.

The monastery was founded in 1084 and the silent order of Carthusian monks produce the local super-strength Chartreuse drink. It’s certainly an acquired taste and not for the faint-hearted!

While we didn’t taste the drink – having had plenty before in previous lives! – we did love the scenery and are keen to return in the winter to explore the comparatively mini ski resorts of St Pierre and Le Sappey.