North shore driving tour, Lake Thun

The road along the north side of Lake Thun (23km/14mi), which affords a succession of beautiful views, leaves Thun by way of Hofstettenstrasse along the banks of the Aare, passing on the right the Municipal Art Gallery in the Thunerhof and on the left the Kursaal. It then follows the northern shore of Lake Thun (trolley-bus to Beatenbucht). Sheltered from north and east winds, the lake has an unusually mild climate. Many southern plants including laurels and fig-trees flourish in the gardens of the charming lakeside villages which attract many visitors in spring and autumn as well as in summer. Almost all the way along the lake there are magnificent views of the giants of the Bernese Alps. At the entrance to the Kandertal and Simmental the conical Stockhorn (2,190 m/7,185ft) can be seen on the right and the pyramidal peak of the Niesen (2,362 m/7,750ft) on the left, with the three peaks of the Blümlisalp (3,664 m/12,022ft) further to the left. To the right of the Blümlisalp a series of summits come gradually into view - from left to right the Fründenhorn (3,369 m/11,054ft), Doldenhorn (3,709 m/12,169ft), Altels (3,629 m/11,907ft) and Rinderhorn (3,453 m/11,329ft). In the direction of Interlaken the most prominent peaks are (from right to left) the Ebnefluh (3,960 m/12,993ft), Jungfrau (4,158 m/13,642ft), Mönch (4,099 m/13,449ft) and Eiger (3,970 m/13,026ft), and beyond these the Schreckhorn (4,078 m/13,380ft) and Wetterhorn (3,701 m/12,143ft). From here it is 3.5km/2mi to Hilterfingen (562 m/1844ft) which has a small church of 1470 and the 18th C. Schloss Hünegg.