Montreux

Montreux has a genuine microclimate — the mountains behind shelter it, and palm trees grow along the lakefront — which means outdoor sessions here run comfortably for weeks either side of the season elsewhere around the lake. In February, when Lausanne is unusable outdoors, Montreux often is not. It is the most reliable place in the region to book winter outdoor coaching.

Behind the town the ground rises very sharply towards Les Avants and Rochers-de-Naye, so hill work here is serious rather than decorative. The town is also seasonal: summer and the festival period are busy and accommodation-driven, while spring and autumn are the easiest times to get the slot you actually want.