We thought we’d have a go at being tourists for a day and take ourselves off to Chamonix by train. We caught it in Le Fayet at the head of the Sallanches valley. The train is superb and looks brand new, with big high windows ensuring you can easily see up to the mountains around you.

The track winds its way through the hamlets and villages of Chedde and Servoz and on its way passes under the road bridge on stilts that takes traffic to Chamonix. It’s spectacular from the angle of the train.

Not quite so spectacular is an old aluminium smelting works below the road which belches sulphurous smoke out, seemingly 24 hours a day. It’s amazing it’s allowed here and certainly seems to add to the smog that sometimes settles in this part of the valley.

The journey takes you on through some narrow gaps cut in the rock, past Les Houches and onto Chamonix, giving you a great view of the Bossons Glacier on the way. The journey took 50 minutes and only cost 5 euros each! The station in Chamonix is right in the centre of the town and the timetable allowed us to enjoy a bit of a stroll around and a great tartiflette lunch before heading back.

The statue is of two French climbers, Jaques Balmat and Dr Michel-Gabriel Paccard who were the first to conquer Mont Blanc in 1786. As you might guess, they’re pointing at the summit of Mont Blanc. Read the story of the climb.