As a town, Alpe d’Huez is well spread out so be prepared to pound some tarmac before hitting the more forgiving – if steeper – earthen trails of the hiking routes. Once you’ve put the resort behind you, you’ll find 230km of marked paths that criss-cross the Massif des Grandes Rousses providing spectacular views of the Belledonne range and the peaks of the Ecrins National Park.

For something reasonably flat that takes you quickly out into the wilderness, I like the path from Alpe d’Huez to Villard Reculas, marked number 8 on the official map. To make it more challenging you can wind up and over the Signal and back into resort. Another favourite is the route out towards the Sarenne gorge and the archeological sites.

If you fancy a challenge, the path up to the Lakes is deceptively steep but once you’re up there the circuit is gentle. If you don’t feel like walking up the mountain, it’s possible to drive and park at Lac Besson.

You can download the official map of hiking trails here and check out some of the other local hiking routes here.

For more general information and videos from Alpe d’Huez, click here.