Craning your head up, the only thing that fills your vision is an austere face overlooking the Swiss Plateau, cracked lines resembling the wrinkles running over the face of an aged general. You are now standing at the feet of Stockhorn, the gatekeeper of the Bernese Oberland, otherwise known as the Bernese Alps. To make your way up, you can begin your journey at the verdure of Simmen Valley where you will board a metal box hung free from thick metal cables. The cable car takes flight over the vistas of green and the shimmering pool of Hinterstockensee’s waters on its trip to the summit. The alternative would be to pull on your hiking boots and chart your way through 70km of hiking trails across trundling hills of grass and yellow bells of petal. Along the way, you might choose to scale the mountain in yet another way, up rough limestone compacted into a sheer wall on the South-Eastern face. Split into 12 sectors, the rock walls offer 120 climbing routes to scale, fingers digging into the scarce purchase as you stay hanging by a single rope harness a 1000 feet above ground. Come winter, a minor change of plans would be needed as your borrowed pair of trustworthy snowshoes lend you traction against the powdered snow which seems to dust every available surface.

Once at the top, steel your quivering heart to walk through a gaping hole in the mountain face. You will emerge at the eyes of Stockhorn from which the jade carpet of Aare Valley can be seen just 400m below. If you dare, you can even take a leap of faith off the thin rail bordering the doors of a cable car in a plunge towards the waiting blue maw of Lake Hickerstockensee. Right beneath the nose of stone-faced Stockhorn, steal the chance for exhilarating bungee jumps, scary drops and endless views.