Travel

Visit Switzerland for a sporty summer

Think of St Moritz and the first thing that comes to mind is the Cresta Run and winter sports. But St Moritz is keen to prove it's not just for holidays in the snow – it's now reinventing itself as a year-round resort. So how does it measure up?

The holiday starts with a stress-free – and punctual – train journey from Zurich to St Moritz. It's a four-hour trip, but don't worry, you won't get bored – the constant stream of breathtaking scenery as the train meanders up into the heart of the Swiss Alps ensures the journey flies by.

I stayed in the tiny village of Silvaplana, 3km south-west of St Moritz, at the only fully-staffed summer chalet, Chesetta. Built on the site of the former village blacksmith's, Chesetta is a seven-bedroom boutique chalet, consisting of two separate living areas interconnected by the lower ground floor. The chalet is served by a gourmet chef, Bettina, who prepares delicious local dishes, such as my particular favourite, buendner gersetnsuppe: a cream and barley soup with Viennese sausage.

The chalet oozes comfort and style. Wood panelling gives it a modern alpine feel while antiques and numerous fake-fur throws make the place much more homely than your average alpine hotel. As well as a gym and sauna in the basement, there's a home cinema for those who'd rather relax than work out.

But with temperatures of 18°C to 20°C between July and August, you'll want to get out and about despite the comfort of the chalet. One activity worth trying is kite surfing. At an altitude of 1,791m, Lake Silvaplana is one of Europe's highest sailing and kite-surfing lakes. Predictable wind speeds of up to five knots across the water make it ideal for being dragged on a surf board by a kite. In fact, the resort hosts the world kite-surfing championships here every summer. It's great fun, although be warned that by the end of the lesson you may feel as though your arms have been torn from their sockets.

There is a smattering of nightlife in Silvaplana – most hotels such as the Julier Palace have a bar or club attached. But the real fun is along the lake in St Moritz. The Roo Bar is a lively restaurant and bar located in the Hotel Hauser. Particularly popular is the selection of meats you cook yourself on a hot stone.

On a more cultural note, in the nearby town of Sils Maria you can find the former summer residence of philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, now known as the Nietzsche Haus. Here you can find the permanent Nietzsche exhibition and, frequently, special modern art exhibitions.

And in St Moritz Dorf, the Segantini Museum, which is dedicated to the works of Italian artist Giovanni Segantini, is worth a visit. Segantini was raised for part of his life in the Alps and drew heavily on the mountains for inspiration. He used pointillism – a painting technique whereby lots of tiny dots are used to make up a picture.

Summer rates start from £175 pppn, based on 12 staying. That includes all services except food. For more, see www.chesetta-stmoritz.com. Flights to Zurich from £70 with Aer Lingus; the train to St Moritz from £70 for a return.

Activities: Summer Alpine sports

Kite surfing

www.kitesailing.ch The kite-sailing school offers private and group lessons to beginners and advance. There is also a well equipped hire shop.

Mountain biking

www.engadinmountainbiketours.ch Offers tours of the mountains with overnight hotel stays,as well as short excursions and lessons.

Hiking

Silvaplana to Lej de la Tscheppa and back. Walk through a romantic landscape of mountain lakes. Suitable for more experienced hikers.