Go Slow ... in the Swiss Alps

The traditional Swiss village of Mürren, situated high in the Bernese Oberland, boasts charming, 'chocolate-box', Swiss mountain chalets and stunning views across the valley to the towering peaks of the famous Mönch, Eiger and Jungfrau mountains. Mürren is a car-free village, making it a quiet, idyllic base for this ‘Go Slow’ holiday, and the final leg of our journey here will be by cable car! Our daily programme will consist of one or two half-day excursions, either on foot from our hotel, or using the excellent network of cable cars, funiculars and mountain railways that provides such good access throughout this whole region. Our walks will always be conducted at a leisurely pace, and almost always begin or end at a mountain restaurant or café where we can relax, have a drink and enjoy the stunning mountain vistas.

We will be staying for the week at the extremely comfortable and centrally located Hotel Edelweiss, just a 5 minute walk from the Mürrenbahn cable car station, a 10 minute walk from the Schilthornbahn cable car station and a 5 minute walk to the swimming pool and Alpine Center (to which all Hotel Edelweiss guests have free access). Although any holiday in the Swiss Alps will include some degree of walking, this ‘Go Slow’ itinerary has been carefully designed to ensure that those wishing to enjoy shorter days with minimal walking are able to do so, whilst anyone that would like to spend longer in the field and stretch their legs will be equally well catered for.

We begin our holiday with a direct, midday flight to Zurich, and then transfer by coach to Stechelberg. From here, we complete the final leg of our journey to Murren by cable car, arriving in time to settle into our rooms and enjoy dinner together this evening. On at least two days we will enjoy walks around Mürren and the Allmendhubel Mountain above the village, which we reach by funicular railway. Following the Flower Trail and the Mountain View Trail, we are likely to see Alpenrose, Globeflowers, Mountain Pansies, Broad-leaved Marsh Orchids and White False Helleborines. Walking the village trail near our hotel, we can look for Black Redstart, Citril Finch, Alpine Chough and Ring Ouzel, plus the Crag and House Martins flitting between the chalets. Depending on the spring, there may even be Lady’s Slipper Orchids flowering within walking distance of our hotel!

On one day we will cross the valley to the village of Wengen and spend our day on the Männlichen above, searching for Alpine Pasqueflower, Alpine Snowbell, Small White Orchid, Moss Campion, Mountain Avens and Alpine Bartsia, as well as several species of saxifrage, gentian, violet, primrose, campanula and pedicularis.

On another day we will descend into the Lauterbrunnen Valley, an area rich in butterflies and birds, as well as flora we may not yet have seen. Here, we will visit the dramatic Trümmelbach Falls, where meltwater from the mountain glaciers corkscrews down inside the vertical valley walls. We will then continue to the beautiful village of Zwiesimmen, which is a delight for any flower enthusiast, with a multitude of pretty gardens, facades, balconies and kitchen gardens. After collecting the necessary equipment from the local dairy, we will wander through the village and along the river, before finding a suitable spot for our fondue picnic lunch!

Of course, no holiday to this region would be complete without a visit to the famous Schynige Platte. Reached via a delightful cogwheel mountain railway that first began operation in 1893, this stunning alpine garden and the rich surrounding limestone flora will be an undoubted highlight of the holiday for many.