Walking in the Bernese Oberland. Kev Reynolds

      The yellow and orange-covered Wanderkarte series at 1:50,000 carry the letter ‘T’ with their personal identification number; these have major walking routes outlined in red, mountain huts circled, and postbus stops also shown. Although the 1:25,000 series shows greater detail, the 1:50,000 scale should be perfectly adequate for most walkers’ needs here, while the commercial publisher Kümmerly + Frey produces a series of hikers’ maps at a scale of 1:60,000. Printed on waterproof and tear-resistant paper, detail shown is similar to that of the LS Wanderkarte series.

      Snowpeaks on the Lauterbrunnental’s headwall are clearly seen from the path to the Rottal Hut (Route 43)

      Map suppliers are listed in Appendix A, but note that some tourist authorities produce their own Wanderkarten that show local walking routes, and these are on sale at tourist information offices. Specific sheets are mentioned in the valley details within the guide.

Using this Guide

      The layout of this guide follows an east–west convention, beginning with the Haslital and working west from valley to valley as far as Col du Pillon below Les Diablerets. Each valley system is treated as a separate unit, or chapter, for which a locator map is provided. These locator maps are designed to show the general alignment of the district, with major features identified; they indicate the location but not the route of walks described in the text. For that you will need to consult the topographical map recommended for that area.

      Within each valley chapter details are given in regard to the various villages or resorts, their access, facilities, tourist information, huts etc, and a number of walks of various grades are then described. At the head of each walk a note is given as to the general location of that route, to make it easier for the reader to find it on the map. All the walks are listed in an index at the back of the book, detailing the grade and length of time each route should take. An explanation of the grading system is found below.

      Distances and heights are quoted throughout in kilometres and metres. Details are taken directly from the map where possible, but in attempting to measure the actual distance of each walk, it has been necessary to make an estimation, for with countless zig-zags on many of the routes, it’s impossible to be precise.

      Times quoted for each walk are approximations only, and refer to actual walking time and make no allowances for rest stops, consulation with the map or photographic interruptions – such stops can add considerably to the overall time you are out (add 25–50% to times quoted), so bear this in mind when planning your day’s itinerary. Although such times are given as a planning aid they are, of course, entirely subjective, and each walker will have his or her own pace which may or may not coincide with those quoted here. By comparing your times with those given in this guide, you should be able to compensate accordingly.

      Abbreviations have been used sparingly, but some have of necessity been adopted. Although most should be fairly obvious, the following list gives clarification.

APR	Alpine Pass Route
CHF	The Swiss Franc (Confederation Helvetia Franc)
hrs	hours
km	kilometres
LS	Landeskarte der Schweiz (Swiss national survey maps)
m	metres
mins	minutes
PTT	Post Office (Post, Telephone & Telegraph)
SAC	Swiss Alpine Club
TGV	Trains à Grande Vitesse

      Grading of Walks

      Walks described in this guide have been chosen with the express intention of helping you make the most out of a holiday in the Bernese Oberland of Switzerland. Since it is hoped that walkers of all degrees of commitment and experience will find something useful here, a grading system has been used to direct readers to the standard of outing best suited to their individual requirements. As mentioned above, the walks have been graded into three categories, but since the grading of walks is not an exact science, each category will cover a fairly wide spectrum. Inevitably there will be anomolies that may be disputed, but they are offered in good faith and as a rough guide only.

      Grade 1 Suitable for family outings. Most cover short distances, or are routed along gently-graded paths with little altitude gain.

      Grade 2 These involve moderate walking, mostly on clear footpaths with a reasonable amount of height gain. Walkers should be adequately shod and equipped.

      Below the Schilthorn the Grauseeli tarn adds colour to a bowl of scree (Route 57)

      Grade 3 More strenuous routes on sometimes rough or unclear paths. These may involve scrambling or the use of ladders, fixed ropes etc. A ‘head for heights’ is called for as many paths are exposed in places. On some Grade 3 routes there will be passes to cross, a summit to reach, or involve glacier travel (individual sections will be marked in the text). In short, true Alpine walking. As there will be steep ascents and descents, and fairly long distances involved, walkers attempting Grade 3 routes need to be physically fit and well-equipped.

INFORMATION AT A GLANCE

      Currency The Swiss franc (CHF): 100 centimes/rappen:CHF1. Although Switzerland is not in the Euro zone, some hotels and retail outlets accept payment by Euro. Change will be given in Swiss francs. Major credit cards are accepted almost everywhere (not in mountain huts). Cash machines (ATMs) are common at banks in most resorts.

      Formalities Visas are not required by holders of a valid UK passport, or other EU nationals. Visitors from other countries should enquire at their local Swiss Embassy.

      Health precautions At the time of writing no vaccinations are required by visitors entering Switzerland, unless they’ve been in an infected area within 14 days of arrival. There are no endemic contagious diseases here, but be aware of the powerful sunlight, and use a broad spectrum suncream (factor 20+) as protection against potentially harmful UV rays that can cause sunburn and lead to skin cancer. Note too that Switzerland, along with much of Central Europe, harbours the Ixodes tick, whose bite causes TBE (tick-borne encephalitis). Risk is seasonal, from March to September, and those who take part in outdoor activities may be vulnerable. An injection of TBE immunoglobulin gives short-term protection; ask your GP for advice. Any medical treatment in Switzerland must be paid for. In the event of hospitalisation or visit to a doctor a deposit must be paid, or proof of health insurance shown. Make sure you have adequate insurance cover that includes personal accident, sickness and rescue. (See Appendix A for a list of specialist insurers.)

      International dialling code When phoning to Switzerland from the UK use 0041. To phone the UK from Switzerland, the code is 0044, after which the initial 0 of the area code is ignored. Cashless call boxes are operated by a phonecard (Taxcard) on sale at post offices, newsagents and railway stations for CHF5, CHF10 and CHF20. Many call boxes also accept payment by credit card.

      Language spoken In the Bernese Oberland, German (or Schwyzerdütsch) is the regional language, although English is widely understood throughout the area covered by this guide.

      Tourist information Switzerland Tourism, 1st Floor, 30 Bedford Street, London WC2E 9ED (Tel freephone 00800 100 200 29 www.switzerlandtravelcentre.co.uk) Destinationen Berner Oberland, c/o Interlaken Tourismus, Höheweg 37, CH–3800 Interlaken (Tel [phone]