Cinuos-chel - Brail to Zuoz by the Via Engiadina

 Back in 2007 when we walked the Via Engiadina we decided not to walk the "high level" section from Brail to Zuoz and, instead, made up our own route along the valley. In 2011 I decided it was time to complete the last "high level" part of the Via Engiadina that I hadn't walked in the Upper Engadine.

Leaving the station at Cinuos-chel - Brail at 10.40 there was a bit of back-tracking down the Inn valley to reach the Via Engiadina at Brail.

Opposite the station this lane leads uphill through woods...

....to then head along the valley side...

....to reach the hamlet of Brail.

Despite being tempted to have coffee in one of the hotels I pressed on..

..to the bus stop at the end of the village where a signpost points to the Via Engiadina. The way marking around Brail is somewhat confusing as the path seems to have both a low level and a high level route at this point. I just kept following the signs to Zuoz.

The path now climbs out of the village .....

.......heading back up the valley again.

Eventually this stile is reached and a curious signpost. The way forward to Zuoz is straight ahead but to read the sign you have to be peer around the pole as it's actually facing the field on the left - most un-Swiss to get things wrong. Perhaps the man putting up the sign put it in the wrong place/

The path climbs up the Val Punt Ota...

....and crosses a stream....

...before heading downhill again...

...and onto a forest track.

There's now a pleasant level section with good views....

....before a drop down into La Resgia. The curious building looks like a power station but is actually a large farm building.

Beyond La Resgia there was a short section of the Via Engiadina that was completely impenetrable, with nettles above chest height.

Fortunately, a short walk along the main road led to a lane up to the hamlet of Chapella ....

......where the path resumed in a more walker-friendly manner....

......before briefly going along the main road to this forest road junction.

The climbing now begins in earnest as the track climbs from 1670m at Capella to about 2050m, mostly through forests with little in the way of views.

For those who want to go higher a track to Alp Gnatshouls loops above the Via Engiadina but on a warm afternoon I was happy to keep on the main path to the left.

At Alp Laret the views open up ....

...before another section through woods.

Zuoz appears below...

.....and the path drops through more woods...

......to reach this path junction. Zuoz is straight on whilst the path downhill leads to...

.....the village of S-chanf.

The Via Engiadina heads down into the lovely village of Zuoz. It had taken me just over four hours from Cinuous-chel - Brail.

Below are two views of Zuoz taken in 2007.