DAY 6: Another mayor, another mountain, and one day closer to the Final Problem

Must, must, must! A visit to the storybook village of Grindelwald, the terrific rocky heights of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau heaving above it, home of the very first cable car in Europe and visited by one Mr Conan Doyle himself. Sherlock, it is said, may also have “holidayed” in this pretty Alpine village, in order to recuperate from the infamous episode at Reichenbach Falls…. But more about that tomorrow.

We travel up, up up from Grindelwald…. the frosted peaks only grow bigger as we become ever tinier.

Rosenlaui, such a pretty posey of vowels, is the charming Kurhaus hotel to which Sherlock and Watson were headed after their visit to Reichenbach Falls. Even if they were never to arrive there precisely as planned, our visit includes an intrepid hike up the rushing Rosenlaui Gorge. Must ask Cardinal Tosca if this would be the root of the word gorgeous.

On foot in the Rosenlaui Valley, the beautifully bedecked Alice Turner casts a careful eye over the Bernese botany, including her beloved alchemilla alpinus, also known as Lady’s Mantle.

Dum dum dee dum dum dum dum da dee dum. Woe is us on the eve of the conflagration at Reichenbach Falls.

Moriarty pronounces: “The end is nigh for Sherlock tomorrow.” He dares to name his supporters, rashly speckled amongst the crowd. Von Bork, Baron Gruner, Baron von Herling, even Mrs Hudson has allegedly sent a postcard asserting “His demands for coffee are driving me mad.” Also among the baddies is Colonel Caruthers who shamelessly accepts repeated happy birthday wishes from us all.

Not so best pleased, either, is the King of Bohemia, in receipt of a blackmail picture featuring his royal behind being tickled by the enticing Irene Adler.

(Relevant picture withheld; we make due with one of the King in the latest of Constantinople fashion playing a synchronised drinking game with Von Bork.)

Standby once again while Lady H plays her cards. And do let's keep one eye on a certain voluptuous Violet….