Zervreila (location For Downhill Scooters)

Zervreila is the high end of the Valsertal, the valley of Vals in Graubünden, where a reservoir fills the basin at about 1,860 metres. The lake owes its existence to a dam that flooded the old settlement of Zervreila, and the lake today is a calm turquoise sheet below a famous mountain, the Zervreilahorn, whose sharp pyramid shape has earned it a reputation as the Matterhorn of the Valsertal. The landscape is open, rocky and high, with pastures, scree and steep slopes on all sides, and a restaurant stands near the dam, giving visitors a place to eat and a base for walks.

The downhill scooter ride starts from this restaurant, where scooters are rented in the summer season. The idea is simple: guests take a sturdy scooter with large wheels and ride down the road toward Vals, a distance of about eight kilometres with a drop from roughly 1,860 metres to 1,250 metres. The route is almost entirely downhill, so the effort is minimal, while the scenery along the way is varied. The road runs beside the stream, through pastures and patches of forest, and past a few farms, giving a different perspective from the one you get in a car. Helmets are part of the rental, and there is a speed limit of about thirty kilometres per hour for safety. Riders should keep to the route, ride in control and stay alert on bends.

The activity suits families with children old enough to balance and brake confidently, as well as adults who enjoy a gentle adventure. It is best in dry weather, when the road is clear, and it only runs during the warmer months when the road is open. Hours follow those of the restaurant, and conditions can change with the weather, so check ahead. Return transport to the start is not part of the ride, and it is worth planning how you will return, either by bus or another arrangement.

Before or after the ride, a short walk around the reservoir is worth the effort, and the views of the Zervreilahorn are among the finest in the valley. In Vals itself, the famous thermal baths designed by the architect Peter Zumthor provide a restful end to the day.