Inside our unique holiday activity – skiing with a sea eagle in the French Alps

NOW here’s a holiday activity that is really set to take off — skiing with an EAGLE.

The unique experience is being offered in the French Alpine resort of Morzine where a local conservationist is aiming to reintroduce the magnificent predators — which boast a 6ft plus wingspan — to the skies.

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And unlike the plucky, but  ultimately hopeless, 80s English ski-jumper Eddie the Eagle — Fletcher the Eagle’s the real deal.

The 12 year old white tailed sea eagle took the ski lift up to the top of the piste sitting patiently with handler Jacques-Olivier Travers. We then got to ski down the slope as Fletcher swooped and soared majestically above us before landing gracefully on his owner’s arm.

It really felt like a privilege to see this beautiful bird in action, returning to the Alps where they were hunted to extinction over 150 years ago.

I was given an even more up close and personal experience when Fletcher was encouraged to land on my own arm — protected by a tough leather falconry glove — with the help of a tasty treat.

For such a big animal he was surprisingly light, weighing just 4kg thanks to those  avian bones.

Afterwards, Jacques-Olivier revealed how the eagles are  making a comeback to France with a little help from Scotland. 

That’s after they got in touch with the naturalist Roy Dennis who helped reintroduce the giant birds to Scotland’s west coast in the 1970s — there are now estimated to be 150 breeding pairs in the country.

Jacques-Olivier said: “I am often in touch with Roy, who has given me so much advice because he has reintroduced something like 200 birds.

“His success and the experience from Scotland, including GPS tagging, will  help here in France. We expect that to help increase the success rate when we release the eagles into the wild here.”

We were staying in the newly refurbished, family run Hotel Névé. It was a little bit of a hike from the main ski-lifts but well worth it thanks to its relaxing spa — ideal for soaking those old bones after a day on the slopes.

The buffet breakfasts were  delicious, the staff super friendly and the ultra-stylish rooms had balconies, giving you a perfect view of Mount Nyon which overshadows the town.

Being in the heart of the Alps there were more restaurants than you could shake a baguette at.

Splash out on Morzine’s More Mountain getaway with white-water rafting and adventure galore

On the first night we dined at a boutique hotel called The Farmhouse — one of the oldest buildings in Morzine — where the set meal and simple choice of red or white wine took the dilemma out of trying to negotiate a menu.

The following evening we dined in the slightly more formal La Chamade, which specialised in tapas and woodfired pizzas, while it also boasted a brilliant wine list. But the most buzzing atmosphere was definitely the Bec Jaune Gastropub, which uses nothing but organic local ingredients.

Their braised short rib with  carrot, kraut and hazelnut was perfectly washed down with some brilliant beers from its onsite microbrewery.

Of course we weren’t here to just eat and drink — more’s the pity — but to ski too. Being in Morzine gives you access to the whole Portes du  Soleil ski area.

And what an area — it’s vast, with 208 lifts on 600km of runs, linking 12 resorts and even allowing you to ski cross-border into Switzerland.

Being thousand of feet up in the Alps too, the skies were blue and the sun blazing, giving this Scotsman his first blast of rays after several, cold dark and stormy winter months back home.

IDYLLIC

And just like in Morzine town centre, there were some magnificent mountain restaurants to choose from, too.

We stopped for a long lunch at la Cremaillère in Lindarets where we got to enjoy their spacious open terrace and menus packed with their speciality — the local mushrooms.

It was idyllic and a real highlight of the trip, sitting in the  rustic restaurant under the hot sun as skiers went whizzing by.

Even though I didn’t think I had anything left in my legs, in the evening we had a snowshoe  experience as we headed out on a mountain hike at dusk with our guide Hervé.

It offered a serene calmness after a day of hurtling down ski runs at top speed, as Hervé talked about the local wildlife before we stopped for some van chaud — hot red wine — and the local sausage, saucisson.

LIGHTSHOW

Our guide then gave us a lesson in the night sky, pointing out the planets and consultations with a powerful laser, bringing an end to a lovely evening with his unique lightshow.

But if the legs aren’t up for  hurtling down the pistes or trudging up snow covered paths anymore then you could always try the ancient Japanese art of forest  bathing — known as shinrin yoku.

There are sessions run here by Simone Simpson — a bundle of energy from Wales — who is known locally as the “wife sitter” as many women choose to join her meditation services while their husbands hit the slopes.

In all honesty I didn’t think I would take much from this activity because I’ve never been much of a tree hugger.

GETTING THERE

GETTING THERE: EasyJet flies from Edinburgh to Geneva throughout the ski season. See easyjet.com

STAYING THERE:  The 3* Hotel Névé is friendly, comfortable and stylish. Doubles from €170, including breakfast. See neve.cool

MORE INFO: A six-day ski pass is £250 per adult for the Portes du Soleil region. Ski with an eagle then have lunch in the same spot at the Pointe de Nyon restaurant on the slopes. Price is £65pp. See lesaiglesduleman.com

Ski with an eagle then have lunch in the same spot at the Pointe de Nyon restaurant on the slopes. Price is £65 pp. See lesaiglesduleman.com.

For forest bathing with Simone Simpson see magicalsnowtreks.com and for snowshoeing with Hervé see en.morzine-avoriaz.com/morzine/snowshoeing

But, after just 15 minutes of silent contemplation by an ice covered river, my eyes were streaming  with tears about my recently departed mum.

We finished off with a delicious cup of pine nettle tea and everything was right with the world once again. I had come to ski, but I left with my spirits soaring higher than an eagle.