For the first quarter of the descent, some part of Lake Geneva is always in view, and later on you can see the entire body of water in all its splendour. It is worth starting out early to beat the crowds. The trail then snakes downhill, along huge rocks and through little patches of forest. A wide gravel path goes gently down through the forest, and after about an hour, half the stage has been completed on reaching Haut-de-Caux.
The mountain railway stops at the middle station, transporting lots of passengers up to the peak of Rochers de Naye from Montreux. The descent from Haut-de-Caux to Montreux takes a further two hours or so, passing through landscapes that seem almost Mediterranean to get to Glion. Finally, you enter Montreux by road and return to civilisation for the first time in days. The southern flair of Montreux cannot be denied. Ship horn blasts and screaming seagulls fill the air, while ice cream stands, restaurants and boutiques adorn the promenade. “What a contrast”, hikers will think as they lick their glace à la pistache.
2 stamping stations are located in this last stage; one at Rocher de Naye and the last at the Montreux Information Point.
The final arrival of the Via Alpina is in Montreux.
