Swiss Alps - Holenstein to Brandegg

Date: Friday 7th August 2015
Route: Holenstation to Brandegg

Our final walk of the week was one that was recommended by the holiday company rep and offered a different perspective on the countryside, as well as passing in and out of woodland - not only did this make it less exposed than some of the other walks, it also gave the walk some of the feel of the West Highland Way, thanks to all of the pines.

The walk starts from the mid-way station on the cable car between Grindelwald and Mannlichen and ends at the train station of Brandegg, 200 metres below. The walk includes both uphill and downhill sections and is less busy than some of the other walks we tried during the course of the week, despite having (yet more) spectacular views. Highly recommended. 

Swiss Alps - Jungfrau Eiger walk, Eigergletscher to Kleine Scheidegg

Date: Friday 7th August 2015
Route: Jungfrau Eiger Walk

Another walk that starts from Eigergletscher station, the Jungfrau Eiger Walk only takes 30 minutes and is downhill all the way down the waymarked path to Kleine Scheidegg station. The views are way more interesting than the walk itself, particularly those of the Eiger, the snowy peak of the Silberhorn and the highest peak, the Jungfrau. 

Swiss Alps - Schynige Platte

Date: Thursday 6th August 2015
Route: Circular walk from Schynige Platte station

This walk's highlights are the journey up the very steep hillside by train and the stunning views down over the town of Interlaken, which sits between the Brienzersee and Thunersee lakes, as well as back up the valley towards the high mountains.

It all looks a bit hazy in the photos - guaranteed better in real life!

Swiss Alps - First to Bachalpsee

Date: Tuesday 4th August
Route: First to Bachalpsee Lake and back

Another deservedly popular walk, this gravel path leads from the cable car station at First, 1100 metres and a 30 minute ride above Grindelwald, to the exceptionally beautiful lake at Bachalpsee, which overlooks the Wetterhorn, Shreckhorn and Eiger summits, as well as glaciers that cannot be seen from the Eiger side of the valley.

With picture postcard views and suitably picturesque goats along the way, this is an easy hour and a half there and back - the path is not very exciting but the views are - and you can always go for a swim if you are feeling adventurous (although the shrieks of the adventurous suggest that the water may have a definite glacial chill).

Swiss Alps - Eiger Trail, Eigergletscher to Alpiglen

Date: Monday 3rd August 2015
Route: The Eiger Trail

Possibly the definitive walk in the area, the Eiger Trail starts from the train station of Eigergletscher (sitting beneath the glacier it takes its name from) and after a very short uphill section at the beginning passes in front of the North Face of the Eiger, winding around the hillside before descending (at times steeply) to the station at Alpiglen, on the line to Grindelwald, which is in the valley below.

The whole walk takes under three hours, the first part of which is over a barren landscape and in cool shadow, before emerging into sunlight and beautiful views. The path passes below steep mountain walls, ice and snow and a powerful waterfall. The North Face of the Eiger looks suitably foreboding and there is information about the four main ascent routes, from the 1930's onwards. Possibly the best walk of the week, although slightly punishing on the knees!   

Swiss Alps - Panoramaweg, Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg

Date: Sunday 2nd August 2015
Route: Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg

Having fallen in love with the Swiss Alps last year, we decided to visit a different area this year, staying in Wengen in the Jungfrau Region. We needed little more than the leaflet of walking routes created by the tourist board and a lift/public transport pass to get started.

The Panoramaweg is a perfect introduction to the region, starting from the cable car station at Mannlichen, 5 minutes and nearly a kilometre above Wengen. The gravel path runs mostly flat or gently downhill, alongside alpine meadows (and some very noisy, clanking cows, all sporting varying sizes of cowbell), on the way to the train station at Kleine Scheidegg. Since it is an easy route and boasts spectacular views of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau mountains, which you reach within an hour, it is a very popular walk. We also encountered some Alpine horn players and a man twirling the Swiss flag, but these aren't necessarily guaranteed!