To my knowledge, this is the first time a GIN walk has involved a boat trip which requires the added challenge of not missing the boat!
Bravo to all participants – John Broadbridge, Tim Goodyear, Philip Jenkins, Robert O’Riordan, Richard Saynor, Nicolas Ulmer, Ralph Wares and Mark Warren – for being at the Nyon jetty in time for the departure of the MB Valais at 10h55.
It was a lovely day and the lake was calm, so we arrived in good form at Yvoire. Our walk was slightly extended following a request to visit the centre of Yvoire with its crowds and commercial activities, including many restaurants, before returning to the Porte de Nernier for a group photograph.
The walk itself of some 2 kilometres each way is straightforward with minimal height difference and welcome shade. Nernier is smaller and much less commercial than Yvoire; even so it has several restaurants, one of which, the Restaurant du Lac, gives onto the port. There have been mixed reports about this restaurant but its location is ideal and for us at any rate the food and service were excellent; we all chose the filet des perches (from Ireland) and many the café gourmand for dessert.
With our clear view of the jetty, we noted that with the boats stopping at Nernier, including the PS Montreux, there was no real need to walk back to Yvoire. But walking is what we did, visiting Nernier again by boat on our return to Nyon.
An enjoyable and convivial trip.
Total distance with diversions about 5kms with a height difference of 20 metres.
Mark Warren