Adrenalin hits, spa bliss & stunning mountain views above make Switzerland a great escape
AS I'm gripping on to the handrail of a walkway suspended 45 metres above the Swiss town of Grindelwald, I ask our guide: 'Is now a good time to tell you I'm scared of heights?'
We're just south of Thun, one of this year's UEFA Women's Euros host cities and a dizzying 2,000 metres above sea level.
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Summit for the weekend in Grindelwald
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Spread your wings with First Glider
Credit: David Birri
On a misty day like today, we're even higher than the clouds as I look down over the edge on the First Cliff Walk.
And this is actually the tamest activity I've signed up for. . .
FLYING START
I stop for a hearty potato rosti topped with bacon, cheese and a fried egg, £21, at Berggasthaus First, before plucking up the courage for the First Flyer, an 800-metre-long zipwire that reaches speeds of 50mph (
Once down, I realise it would have been a better idea to eat lunch after, not before.
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But I'm soon back up the mountain to try First Glider, where I'm harnessed face down, then pulled back and launched through the air like an eagle (though I don't feel quite so graceful).
Mountain carting – a cross between a go-kart and a sledge – proves my fave, as I speed down a twisty, 3km-long track back towards town.
Tickets for two activities cost £91 per adult (
The Fire & Ice Spa at my chic hotel, Bergwelt Grindelwald, just minutes from the gondola, is a welcome change of pace.
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I warm up in the outdoor sauna with views of the imposing, ragged face of Eiger mountain, before soaking in the heated outdoor pool – the sound of cowbells nearby is the only playlist.
Derrick Rose and girlfriend Alaina Anderson enjoy family vacation in Switzerland
TOP OF THE ROCKS
A 30-minute train ride away is the town of Interlaken, home to the Harder Kulm mountain, where it's a short trip by the 100-year-old funicular to the summit (
At the top, I find Panorama Restaurant, serving 'the coldest beer in Interlaken', £6, in an ice-bottomed glass, as well as daily Alphorn concerts to soundtrack dinner.
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The Fire & Ice Spa at my chic hotel, Bergwelt Grindelwald, just minutes from the gondola, is a welcome change of pace
Credit: Anja Zurbrügg
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Double rooms at Bergwelt cost from £155
Credit: Anja Zurbrügg
I arrive early and take the hour-long circular hike around the mountain top to work up an appetite, then order the Monch Spezial, £21 – a charcuterie board of Swiss air-dried beef, home-made sausage, smoked ham and alpine cheese – followed by Alpine-style macaroni, £23, with potatoes, onions, cheese and apple sauce (
Higher still is Jungfraujoch – Europe's highest railway station and the only place in the region where you're guaranteed year-round snow.
From the Grindelwald terminal, I take a gondola up to the
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All in all, it takes about 45 minutes, and is well worth it. I send a letter from the highest post office in Europe and take in the panoramic mountain views from the Sphinx Observatory.
Sadly, I can't sledge at the Snow Fun Park, due to blizzard-like conditions, so seek shelter in the Ice Palace, a maze carved into the glacier, with incredible frozen sculptures lining the walls.
At Crystal Restaurant, views rival the observatory and I tuck into a starter of creamy home-made lobster soup, £12.75, and moreish cheese fondue, £26.
As I make my descent, rather than checking tickets, the train conductor hands out chocolates. It definitely beats my usual commute.
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FYI
Double rooms at Bergwelt cost from £155 (
A Jungfrau Travel Pass, from £38, covers unlimited train, cable car, bus and cruises (
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Beauty Editor Tara Ledden in Switzerland
Credit: Tara Ledden
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AS I'm gripping on to the handrail of a walkway suspended 45 metres above the Swiss town of Grindelwald, I ask our guide: 'Is now a good time to tell you I'm scared of heights?' We're just south of Thun, one of this year's UEFA Women's Euros host cities and a dizzying 2,000 metres above sea level. Advertisement 5 Summit for the weekend in Grindelwald 5 Spread your wings with First Glider Credit: David Birri On a misty day like today, we're even higher than the clouds as I look down over the edge on the First Cliff Walk. And this is actually the tamest activity I've signed up for. . . FLYING START I stop for a hearty potato rosti topped with bacon, cheese and a fried egg, £21, at Berggasthaus First, before plucking up the courage for the First Flyer, an 800-metre-long zipwire that reaches speeds of 50mph ( Once down, I realise it would have been a better idea to eat lunch after, not before. Advertisement Read More on Travel But I'm soon back up the mountain to try First Glider, where I'm harnessed face down, then pulled back and launched through the air like an eagle (though I don't feel quite so graceful). Mountain carting – a cross between a go-kart and a sledge – proves my fave, as I speed down a twisty, 3km-long track back towards town. Tickets for two activities cost £91 per adult ( The Fire & Ice Spa at my chic hotel, Bergwelt Grindelwald, just minutes from the gondola, is a welcome change of pace. Advertisement Most read in News Travel I warm up in the outdoor sauna with views of the imposing, ragged face of Eiger mountain, before soaking in the heated outdoor pool – the sound of cowbells nearby is the only playlist. Derrick Rose and girlfriend Alaina Anderson enjoy family vacation in Switzerland TOP OF THE ROCKS A 30-minute train ride away is the town of Interlaken, home to the Harder Kulm mountain, where it's a short trip by the 100-year-old funicular to the summit ( At the top, I find Panorama Restaurant, serving 'the coldest beer in Interlaken', £6, in an ice-bottomed glass, as well as daily Alphorn concerts to soundtrack dinner. 5 The Fire & Ice Spa at my chic hotel, Bergwelt Grindelwald, just minutes from the gondola, is a welcome change of pace Credit: Anja Zurbrügg Advertisement 5 Double rooms at Bergwelt cost from £155 Credit: Anja Zurbrügg I arrive early and take the hour-long circular hike around the mountain top to work up an appetite, then order the Monch Spezial, £21 – a charcuterie board of Swiss air-dried beef, home-made sausage, smoked ham and alpine cheese – followed by Alpine-style macaroni, £23, with potatoes, onions, cheese and apple sauce ( Higher still is Jungfraujoch – Europe's highest railway station and the only place in the region where you're guaranteed year-round snow. From the Grindelwald terminal, I take a gondola up to the Advertisement All in all, it takes about 45 minutes, and is well worth it. I send a letter from the highest post office in Europe and take in the panoramic mountain views from the Sphinx Observatory. Sadly, I can't sledge at the Snow Fun Park, due to blizzard-like conditions, so seek shelter in the Ice Palace, a maze carved into the glacier, with incredible frozen sculptures lining the walls. At Crystal Restaurant, views rival the observatory and I tuck into a starter of creamy home-made lobster soup, £12.75, and moreish cheese fondue, £26. As I make my descent, rather than checking tickets, the train conductor hands out chocolates. It definitely beats my usual commute. Advertisement FYI Double rooms at Bergwelt cost from £155 ( A Jungfrau Travel Pass, from £38, covers unlimited train, cable car, bus and cruises ( Plan a trip at My 5 Beauty Editor Tara Ledden in Switzerland Credit: Tara Ledden
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He subsequently became a member of the Dublin & District Motor Cycle Club in 1907. He competed on a variety of machines; his first recorded appearance took place in September 1903 at a reliability trial, Dublin to Portlaoise return, on an FN with a heady output of 2.75 bhp. Charles Bayly Franklin was a member of the Dublin & District Motor Cycle Club in 1907. Pic: Supplied His reputation grew here and in England as the renowned motorcycle star of his day. His results were such that he was selected for the British Team for international competitions. Franklin became the first Irishman to compete in an international motorcycle competition, being chosen on the three-man Great British team in the International Cup of 1905, a significant achievement for the Dubliner. 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This also left him free to compete in many competitions, with his prime focus being the 1911 TT. The 1911 Indian Race Team was formidable, achieving a clean sweep in the Senior TT, where they secured the first three places. Franklin came second. In 1912, he became the first rider in the world to cover 300 miles in less than 300 minutes. In 1914, the Hendee Manufacturing Company opened a retail depot in Dublin under his management. It subsequently opened a retail and service business at 10 Wicklow Street in May 1915 – unfortunately, it wasn't great timing, as Europe and Ireland were in turmoil. At this stage, it cannot be overstated how Charles B. Franklin was seen in Irish and world motorcycling. This quiet man, whose technical knowledge was respected in equal terms as his forensic preparation and will to win, had by now effectively gained Charles' legendary status within motorcycling racing circles. A combination of the 1916 Rising, along with new trade taxes on imported vehicles, including motorcycles, led to the closure of his shop on Wicklow Street. Keen not to lose Franklin, Hendee offered him a job in Indian's design department in Springfield, Massachusetts. He joined the Indian Motorcycle Company in 1916. By 1919, he was the head engineer. Indian was in trouble, having lost significant ground to Harley-Davidson during the War years. Franklin's 600cc Scout was given the production green light in 1919. Pic: Supplied Franklin's next motorcycle would place Indian forever in the hearts of motorcyclists. His 600cc Scout was given the production green light in 1919 and was launched at the National Motorcycle Show in Chicago. It was an immediate success. Indian's most famous Scout bore the engine number 50R627. It was bought by Burt Munro, a 21-year-old, who paid £120. Munro himself became an Indian legend as he kept that bike for over 55 years. The Anthony Hopkins film, The World's Fastest Indian, tells the tale wonderfully. Franklin went on to design a larger version of the Scout, the Chief, which was enlarged to 1,000cc. Its advanced technical offerings and appearance in 1922 received a similar warm welcome. In 1923, the Big Chief was introduced to the range, featuring a 1,200cc capacity. The Irishman's legacy was assured. Charles Franklin died on October 23rd, 1932 – he was 52 years old. For all his fame, there is little documentation or records of this genuine Irish Genius who effectively saved the Indian Motorcycle Company from extinction. What we do know from Tony Toner, co-author of this article, is that this legend of motorcycle engineering and racing is buried in an unmarked grave in Oak Grove Cemetery in Springfield, Massachusetts. Tony Toner points at Charles Franklin's grave, which is referenced only by the number 9814. Pic: Supplied Tony and some friends are actively involved in attempting to rectify this glaring void in the contribution and memory of Charles Franklin on both sides of the Atlantic. He has contacted relevant interested parties to ensure that one of the world's first actual motorcyclists will be honoured appropriately, both here in Ireland and at his final resting place. To find out more, you can contact Tony at tonydrivetoner@ The Ducati Multistrada V2S is a real biker's bike. It boasts all the heritage of Ducati, offering a smooth, comfortable, and responsive ride that will take you anywhere. As Ducati say on their website: 'It was conceived to combine performance, touring capability and ease of use.' Ducati Multistrada V2, a real biker's bike! Pic: Supplied When I heard I was riding a Ducati, I wasn't over the moon as I felt Ducati only made speedsters, and that's not my thing. But boy was I wrong – and right. 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Pic: Supplied Damian says: 'If you're thinking of organising a charity event, know what you're getting yourself in for. You soon become Marmite; people will either like you or hate you. Have a thick skin, the keyboard warriors will come out. 'Always be transparent when it comes to fundraising. People will always wonder what you're getting out of it. For me, it's just the buzz of bringing bikers together and getting them back safely.' Long may GT continue to ride and do what he does brilliantly. I was about 18 when I first got a taste for motorcycles. I was introduced by an old friend, Brendan, and used to go everywhere on the back of his Honda BAJA XLR250. I was 20. However, I only had it for a short while. I was off bikes for 22 years before getting back on one in June 2020. The first bike I bought was a 16-valve Suzuki Bandit 400 Slingshot back in the day. All black. No, I was on a provisional car licence for way too long. When I did the car test, the rules had changed. So, I was young and foolish back then. I sat my test in 2022. No, not the first time, I got a loan of a donor bike from an instructor. I just couldn't get used to it an hour before the test. As I was working in the healthcare sector, I retook a test three weeks later and passed it on my 2015 BMW F800R. It has to be the Grand Tour 2025 (GT25). Forty bikers from all over Ireland and one lady from the UK are travelling around Ireland for three days, everyone getting on so well and not one incident to report. Yes, a nasty one in January 2024, a driver pulled out in front of me. I crashed into the side of him, got flung over the other side of the road and then hit by a truck. I got a way lucky, snapped the tibia and split the knee in half. In fairness to the other party, he was great and went to the Gardaí himself, admitted liability himself and came to see me in the hospital — two people in the wrong place at the wrong time. I have been doing events since 2022 for various non-profits, including Shed4Bikers, as well as charities such as Pieta and Jigsaw. Most are one-day events, except for the GTs. Also I do an end-of-summer Carlingford Run from Dublin, which always attracts big numbers, including 350 at last year's. Do it; don't think twice. Make sure to do it properly and get the proper training. Eric Dolton has to be one of the best in Ireland. Get a machine you're comfortable with and go to the right spins to suit you. I've often seen inexperienced drivers get caught up in the moment of the spin, trying to keep up with the more experienced driver. It's going to end badly at some stage. Drive at your own pace. With the support of those who get on board and corporate sponsors, I have raised nearly €200,000 since 2022. We all enjoy the thrill of the ride or being in a group spin. Do it safely; if you want to go mad, consider a track day at Mondello. Track days are a lot cheaper than a funeral.
