Sion to Val d' Hérens (driving tour)

From Ferpècle it is a two-hour climb to the Alpe de Bricolla (2,462 m/7,960ft), with the Dent Blanche (4,364 m/14,318ft; 9-10 hours, with guide) rearing above it on the left, and the Glacier du Mont Miné, with the Dents de Bertol, the Aiguille de la Za (3,673 m/12,051ft) and the Dents de Veisivi (3,425 m/ 11,237ft; 5.5-6 hours).

The Val d'Hérens road runs to Evolène (1,378 m/4,521ft), the chief town in the valley (pop. 1,500) and a popular holiday resort, lying in the wide green stretch of valley between Sasseneire (3,259 m/10,693ft; 5.5 hours with guide) to the east and the Pic d'Arzinol (3,001 m/9,846ft; 5-5.5 hours) and the Mont de l'Etoile (3,372 m/11,064ft; six hours, with guide) to the west. Higher up the valley the view is dominated by the bold outline of the Dents de Veisivi and the massive Dent Blanche (to left).

The road to Les Haudères runs along a hillside, following an almost level but winding course. On the opposite side of the valley is the pretty village of Vernamiège. After crossing the River Dixence, coming from the Val d'Hérémence, the road turns into the Val d'Hérens (German Eringertal) and passes through a tunnel under a series of earth pillars, columns of morainic debris which have been protected from erosion by a large boulder or capstone.

A good road ascends the Val d'Arolla to Arolla, properly Mayens d'Arolla (1,962 m/6,437ft), winter sports and mountain resort (ski-lifts, cross-country skiing, toboggan run, curling) magnificently set facing the Pigne d'Arolla (3,801 m/12,471ft; five-six hours) and Mont Collon (3,644 m/11,956ft; seven hours, with guide).

Euseigne or Useigne (970 m/3,183ft): road on right into Val d'Hérémence. On the opposite side of the valley is the village of St-Martin.

A narrow and sometimes steep road runs up the Combe de Ferpècle from Les Haudères to the huts of Ferpècle or Salay (6.5km/4mi, 1,800 m/5,906ft), near the end of twin glaciers, the Glacier du Mont Miné and the Glacier de Ferpècle.

La Luette (1,020 m/3,347ft), beyond which the road crosses the gray waters of the Borgne on a high bridge, the Pont Noir de Lugnerez (1,001 m/3,284ft). 1km/0.6mi farther up the valley, at Praz-Jean (1,100 m/3,609ft), a narrow road goes off on the left and passes through a number of hamlets and the villages of St-Martin and Mase, standing high above the right bank of the Borgne and offering fine views. The road then runs down in steep bends to Bramois and across the Rhône to Sion (5km/3mi).

From Evolène the road runs along the right bank of the Borgne and in 4km/2mi reaches Les Haudères (1,433 m/4,702ft), a health resort. It is the highest village in the Val d'Hérens, which divides at this point into the Val d'Arolla and the Combe de Ferpècle.

The road runs up the Val d'Hérémence via Pralong (1,608 m/5,276ft) to Motôt (1,925 m/6,316ft), with a parking place (1,970 m/6,464ft). From here it is a two-hour walk (also private road, 5.5km/3mi) to the Grande-Dixence dam (2,365 m/7,760ft; completed 1961; 284 m/932ft high; top 748 m/2,454ft long, 15 m/49ft wide, in the Val des Dix. Its water is carried in underground tunnels to the Fionnay power station and beyond this, under pressure, to the main power station at Nendaz in the Rhône valley. At the end of the road, beneath the dam, is a hotel and restaurant with a large park lot. From here a cableway runs up to the lake (motorboat). At the southern end of the lake is an iron suspension bridge.

Prominent among the peaks forming the magnificent mountain setting of the lake are the Rosablanche (3,336 m/10,945ft), Mont Blanc de Cheilon (3,871 m/12,701ft) and the Aiguilles Rouges d'Arolla (3,650 m/11,976ft).

Walks: along the lake (2.5 hours); to the Cabane des Dix (4 hours; by boat two hours); to the Col de Riematten (four hours); to Arolla (six hours).

Vex (957 m/3,140ft; pronounced Veh) is commandingly situated high above the gorge of the Borgne, which flows down through the Val d'Hérens. A narrow road goes off on the right and ascends the Val d'Hérémence, running from above the Val d'Hérens road to the picturesque village of Hérémence (1,236 m/4,055ft), with the church of St Nicolas (by W. M. Förderer, 1963-71).