Switzerland: Engelberg is the ideal spot for adventure in the great outdoors

Right in the middle of Switzerland lies Lucerne, a small town with a long history, set amidst a classic mountain landscape on the shores of Lake Lucerne. From Lucerne, local trains coil their way southwards, up into a high, narrow valley to reach the unspoilt resort of Engelberg, poised at 3,445ft above sea level. This is a charming, typically Swiss Alpine village, characterised by wooden chalet architecture and a traditional atmosphere. The pace of life is slow, dictated by the tolling bells of the Benedictine monastery, a fixture in the village since the 12th century.

Engelberg sits below the mighty Titlis mountain, which rises to 10,626ft and is accessed in easy stages by cable-car. The final leg of the journey features the Rotair, the world's first revolving cable-car, which makes one complete turn as it glides gently over a sea of ice to the summit. And yes: it's as incredible as it sounds.

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The great outdoors is what makes Engelberg special, and one of the best ways to experience it during the summertime is with Nordic walking. By using carbon walking-poles and following a strict alternating pace rhythm, Nordic walking has the effect of giving aerobic exercise to the whole body - the upper body, shoulders and arms, as well as the legs. Engelberg is a major centre for the sport, with plenty of groups and sessions running throughout the summer.

This part of the Alps is also known for its adventure sports. The two leading local operators - Outventure (00 41 41 611 14 41; www.outventure.ch) and Adventure Engelberg (00 41 41 639 54 50; www.adventure-engelberg.ch) - run dozens of activities all year round, from flying fox and canyoning to skydiving, ice-climbing and even a two-day winter excursion to build your own igloo and sleep in it. There is some of the Alps' best summer skiing and snowboarding at the Titlis Glacier Park, way up above 9,842ft, or you could opt for a downhill ride from the summit on a mountain bike followed by kayaking on the tranquil Trübsee lake, perched high above the valley floor.

Alternatively, get away from it all for a wider view at Fürenalp, above Engelberg. From the summer terrace here, the mountain peaks are laid out at close quarters. This is a popular spot for paragliding, and also features rock climbing at Wissberg, as well as an Alpine nature trail and plenty of hideaways to enjoy the mountain environment at your own pace.

On the sunny side of Engelberg's valley, Brunni is a popular point of departure for easy walks and nature trails, along with more demanding mountaineering routes and some great paragliding.

But it's not just all about the great outdoors: health and wellbeing has become a key aspect of the Alpine experience. At Engelberg's Sporthotel Eienwäldli, natural woods and polished granite set the scene for an expansive wellness centre, ranging from a large indoor pool to a sauna and a host of beauty treatments and massages.

A great excursion from Engelberg heads back to Lake Lucerne, where old-fashioned paddle steamers chug their way slowly across the calm waters towards Weggis and Vitznau, a pair of genteel 19th-century resorts lying at the foot of the Rigi - the name derives from regina montium, or 'Queen of the Mountains' - topping 19,350ft. Both Weggis and Vitznau give access (by cable-car or cog railway) to Rigi-Kaltbad, a shelf of pasture on the shoulder of the mountain, from where hiking routes fan out through the pine woods on all sides, including up to the summit for some spectacular views over the lakes and mountains of central Switzerland.

Engelberg is one hour from Lucerne by direct trains. For accommodation options see www.myswitzerland.com. For more information, contact Engelberg-Titlis Tourism (00 41 41 639 77 77; www.engelberg.ch).

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