Summer walking click
here
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For details of dates for 2006/7 for this and all our Guided Walking Holidays , please click HERE.
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Christmas
Walking
We offer guided walking holidays at Christmas every year in Meiringen. We
believe it is magical but don't take our word for it. Two of our clients Joe & Judy Pallet have written a diary of their
holiday with us in Meiringen for Christmas. Here are some excerpts.
Friday These
Swiss trains are superb, smooth as silk, they appear to just
glide, and are always on time to the minute, Met by Barbara
our guide at Meiringen station who gave us the warmest of
welcomes. Felix, the owner of the Meiringen, was there to
greet us at our hotel……. met Barbara in the Hotel Baer
where over a drink we made the acquaintance of the ot
her party
members and had a short resume of the proposed week’s
itinerary…….
Saturday…..
boarded the Golden Pass Panorama train to Interlaken, changed
for Lauterbrunnen and from there onto the near perpendicular
funicular to the tiny settlement of Grutschalp... now well
above the snow line and although the pathways were clear of
deep snow the mountainside was covered to a depth of eighteen
inches. We took the contour path to Murren a delightful scenic
walk, through pine covered slopes, with marvellous panoramic
views, and nestling in the valley below the charming alpine
resort of Wengen. Towering above stood the snow cover mass of
Mannlichen ( 7832ft) an impressive solid formation of rock,
with slight patches of blue standing out in contrast to the
pure white slow, indicating the snout of several glaciers……..
as we sped homewards the still waters of Lake Brienz reflected
the twinkling lights from the lakeside chalets and homesteads,
and with a low, light grey cloud forming an umbrella over the
whole valley, this was a most tranquil ending to a delightful
day.
Monday The
journey to Bussalp was spectacular, the road snow covered and
very treachourous, only a vehicle such as the Postbus with
wheels encased in snow chains would ever risk this trip….
walked on the four mile contour path, weaving through pine
covered mountainside, the trees heavily laden with thousands
of dark brown and honey coloured cones, contrasting strongly
with the dark green arching branches of the conifers…. a
real Christmas scene; no need of tinsel and baubles, this,
nature’s own decoration was exquisite.
Christmas Eve ..
our ‘free day’. We met up with some group members and took
the cable car to Planplatten Ridge……. 7364 ft above sea
level with a blue sky and and in bright sunlight the
visibility was brilliant, we could see 360 degrees of alpine
skyline, the Rothorn, Titlis, Sustenhorn, Wetterhorn, Eiger
all glistening white in morning sunlight……. In the
evening, Albert the proprietor of the Baer, laid on a superb
meal at the Baer with the table decorated in a festive spirit,
and in such jovial and convivial company who could have wished
for anything more enjoyable. We all met up later to attend the
Christmas Eve service at the Lutheran church in Meiringen, an
excellent brass band provided the music, and although the
service was conducted in Swiss German, we all joined in the
singing.
Christmas Day ……
took the train to Brunig, alighted and followed the Hasliberg
Panorama Way…. through woodland, climbing through acres of
tall, straight, beech trees; at intervals we came across
massive boulders of granite, erratic boulders that had been
carried down this valley and deposited here by glaciers in the
last ice age…. The ‘cuckoo clock’ houses and strong
timber chalet type dwellings were all decorated with holly,
evergreen, and pine cones. We stopped at Restaurant
Wasserwendi for Christmas lunch…. a favourite watering hole
of ours….. enjoyed our meal looking out at a fantastic view
of Lake Brienz and the mountains of Axalp…. After a
delicious evening meal we all met up in the bar for a
Christmas toast…..
Boxing Day ….
Our travel today took us to……. a height of just over 6000
ft and we were now in deep snow….. the pathway we took to
Magisalp as always has been cleared of deep snow and well
marked with indicator poles….. unanimous vote was passed to
continue walking down to Bidmi from where after refreshments
we returned on the gondola and cable car to Meiringen the town
we felt so endeared to. We were feeling quite sad at knowing
this was our last full day spent here among the mountains and
valleys. We had enjoyed every minute of our stay, and at the
corner of our street we said our farewells to the lovely
people that had been our walking companions.
Friday ……we
said our farewells to the Hotel Meiringen and all the friendly
staff and left on the train to Luzern and on to Zurich Airport
for our flight home,….. we had been apprehensive 
on our
choice of the time of year to visit Switzerland and to spend
Christmas away from home, but in retrospect it was a very good
decision to take and we both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
Thank you Barbara for making our holiday so good, thank you
all our fellow companions for your friendship, company and
humour, thank you Meiringen, we shall not forget
Joe & Judys
holiday was based in Meiringen
at the Meiringen
Hotel.
You can go and
return when ever it suits you, details of prices see here.
For information about accommodation in Meiringen, please click HERE
