Bosco Gurin: the highest Walser village in Ticino and the Grossalp pastures

Bosco Gurin is the only German-speaking village in Ticino: the Walser founded it in the thirteenth century coming over from the Valais, and the older people still speak ggurijnartitsch. It sits at 1,506 m at the head of a side valley, its dark timber houses and slab roofs lined up along the slope.

The route

From the village we climb the Grossalp pastures, the ones that become ski runs in winter, up to the ridge at almost two thousand metres: from there you see the peaks of Vallemaggia and, over the crest, Italy's Valle Formazza.

We descend by Alpe Rossboda, with its larches and barns, and finish at the Walserhaus, the village museum.

Who it's for

• anyone who loves villages that kept their own language
• anyone who wants a complete loop of pasture, ridge and larch wood
• September and October walkers, when the larches turn

Good to know

Entry to the Walserhaus is not included (CHF 7) and it is open April to October. The road to Bosco Gurin is long and winding: we start early. There are cattle in the pastures: dogs on the lead.

You are crossing into Switzerland

A valid ID in your pocket, not in your rucksack: Switzerland is not in the European Union and border checks do happen.

Mountain rescue is charged for: in Switzerland the helicopter is billed to the person who calls it. Guiddy accident insurance is included, but a Rega card (about €40 a year) or a policy covering rescue costs in Switzerland is what we suggest to everyone.

Swiss francs: huts and cable cars almost always take cards, but a few valley huts are still cash only. The European health card is valid in Switzerland for emergency care.

If your dog comes along: Switzerland requires a microchip, an EU pet passport and a valid rabies vaccination, given at least 21 days beforehand. Without them the dog is turned back at the border.

Getting there

A9 to Bellinzona, then Locarno, Vallemaggia to Cevio and the climb up to Bosco Gurin: two and a half hours from the ring road.

By car you need the Swiss motorway vignette (CHF 40, valid for the calendar year) if you use the motorway: you buy it at the border, at petrol stations near the crossing, or online.