UKC

Work wants me at a place near Zurich on Monday-Wednesday in a couple of weeks time. I can fly out the previous Saturday, maybe even the Friday evening if I find a suitable flight. So what do the great and good of UKC recommend for me to get some nice hills?

I do climb a little (trad HS, sport 6a-6b), and I scramble a lot in Scotland (mostly grades 2 and 3), but I'll be travelling on my own and it'll be my first trip real to the Alps or Switzerland. So I'm leaning towards walking, and maybe a little scrambling, or some beginner-friendly via ferrata if I can hire the kit (I have done one easy & well-maintained one before). I have no experience of glaciers, and will probably stay away from them. I'm expecting to travel by train, but could hire a car instead.

Where should I go? How should I get there? Where is a good place to stay? Do I need crampons this time of year?

In reply to Jack B:
I used to go to Zurich regularly and took extra days to do similar things. These were the most memorable:

Via ferrata at Braunwald http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/braunwald-the-three-peak-classic.html

And Engelberg - this one was awesome. You can rent gear at the cable car station. http://www.fuerenalp.ch/en/via-ferrata

There are also a couple of others at Engelberg

Both places easily reached from Zurich by train.

https://www.sbb.ch/en/timetable.html

I found cheapish hotels in both places.

In reply to Jack B:

I would second the above about Engleberg. Really handy to get to by train. Would recommend The Ski Lodge hotel which is right outside the train station. Really friendly and good for any advice on any mountain activities.

In reply to Jack B:

Thanks for the tips! Those via ferrata look fun. I've only done one before though: The Prises de la Bastille in Grenoble. It was easy enough, and I didn't take a guide - I just hired a lanyard and off I went. Can I take the same approach to the Engelberg and/or Braunwald ones? Are there any sections protected only by long vertical wires where a fall would be riskier?

In reply to Jack B:

Another Engelberg vote and another vote for the ski lodge - best bar in town. And there's a dreadful basement club in town for your Saturday night...