Stockhorn

The Stockhorn is a limestone peak of about 2,190 metres on the northern edge of the Bernese Alps, rising above Lake Thun and the Simmental valley, and it is one of the best viewpoints in the region because it stands slightly apart from the main chain. The mountain has a shape like a pair of horns, with a steep north face and a more gentle southern slope, and its position at the border between the lowlands and the high Alps gives a view in two directions. To the north the land falls away to the hills of the Mittelland, the lakes of Thun and Murten, and on a clear day the Jura mountains and even the Black Forest in Germany are visible. To the south, the great snow peaks of the Bernese Oberland, from the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau to the Blüemlisalp, rise in a long line.

The easiest way to the summit is the cable car, which starts in Erlenbach in the Simmental and rises in two stages, with a middle station at Chrindi, where there is a restaurant. The ride is a gentle ascent over forest, meadows and cliffs, and in the middle section it passes over a small mountain lake. Cars of the older type are partly open, which gives a closer feel of the mountain air, though the exact fleet depends on the operator's equipment. A restaurant at the top serves meals and refreshments on a terrace with the view, and a path leads from the station to the summit cross in a few minutes.

The Stockhorn area is also a good place for walking. Trails of various lengths start from the middle station and summit, with an Alpine flower path where signs name the plants and a quiz trail that makes the walk fun for children. The two lakes under the mountain, the Oberstockensee and the Hinterstockensee, are reached by short walks and are quiet places for a picnic. The mountain is home to chamois and ibex, and with luck you can spot them on the slopes. In summer, wildflowers cover the pastures, including gentians, anemones and orchids, and the area is a nature reserve in parts, so it is important to keep to paths.

In winter the cable car continues to run for walkers, and the slopes below offer some skiing and sledging, though the area is small compared with the great ski resorts. Snowshoe routes are marked in places. The cold, clear air of winter often gives the best visibility, with a sea of fog lying below in the lowlands while the summit is in sun.

The mountain is reached by train from Thun to Erlenbach, and the valley station is a short walk from the station. Timetables and prices of the cable car vary by season, and the lift is closed for maintenance periods and in strong wind, so check the operator's website before you travel. Bring warm clothes, sturdy shoes and sun protection. The Stockhorn suits families, walkers and photographers. Allow half a day for the ride and the summit.