If the Oberlands of Switzerland had created a route just for lovers of food and gastronomic adventures, then the Männlichen is your base camp for an unforgettable journey. A towering pyramid of chalk standing guard over the village of Wengen Männlichen is best known for being the epicenter of a spider’s web of hiking paths towards its neighboring peaks and quiet villages.

Set in traditional wooden barns, the dairy farms of Wengen churn out the freshest butter and cheeses from their buttercup yellow milk. These are often open for a tour upon request so this would be a chance to learn of the art behind aging Swiss cheese to perfection right at the edge of the mountain. Mouth tingling with the unexpected flavors, you can now journey to the tip of Männlichen. The untainted alpine air is ambrosia on the tongue as you first scale the peak on one of the longest gondola rides in the mountain range over the gentle elevations. Rolled out like bejeweled carpets are the valleys of Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwalk, two tiny clusters of red dots from above marking the valley villages. Against steep ridges and downhill runs, one can earn the honorary title of a chamois by running down the Gemsenweg at record speeds. The Chamois walkway is called as such after the native spring-hooved relative of goats for its uneven ground are best navigated by those with feet as light as these gymnasts of the mountain. The food trail continues with the Öpfelchüechliweg or apple tart path. The hike is exactly as its name suggests. Though the crowns of the apple tree are scarce to be found along the way, what hikers can see are panels with interesting bites of information about Switzerland’s love for the fruit. The path gradually peters out to an end at the Brandegg mountain restaurant where you can seek your teeth into the sweet and crispy apple fritters which they’re known worldwide for. Refueled and invigorated, you’re now ready to leg your way through more breathtaking hikes in your journey across the highlands.