A Hike along the "Lake Thun Panorama Trail"

December 28, 2019 -- This was another excursion like a recent one we did, where we took a round-about way to get to the start of our hike, because it's not what we had originally planned!

Our original plan was our first "winter" hike of the season in a narrow valley in the Bernese Alps (Rosenlauital) where there is a 2-hour round-tour trail with a cozy restaurant along the way (we were there earlier this Spring, and the plan was to have lunch there). But we had the bright idea to phone the restaurant before heading into the steep valley, to find out from them that until February, there is basically no sun there. So that idea has been postponed.

Instead we continued to the city of Thun, a trip we could have done directly in 30% less time. Nevertheless, the sun was shining there, and there was a section of the "Lake Thun Panorama Trail" which we wanted to complete, which turned out to be a very nice trail through woods mostly, with nice views; except low clouds unexpectedly moved in over the lake just when it looked like we'd have a very sunny afternoon. Still, a super opportunity for a 10-km hike in the mountains on December 28th...

Weird story: As we sat on a bench having coffee, an old local farmer sauntered over and asked us if he could tell us a story. We said, "well, it depends on how long it is". His answer: "Until it's finished!" What could we do then, but listen? Then he proceeded with what sounded like the longest joke ever, a story I thought had reached the punchline several times, until I couldn't understand him anymore... and then suddenly he was finished and walked back the same way he had come from. Still don't know what the point of the story was.

Original plan had been to do a hike in a side valley of the Bernese Alps (at the back on the left, near Meiringen) but it would have been too shady. So here we are on the way to Thun by train, traveling along the South side of Lake Thun. On the right is the highest peak in the Bernese Alps: Mount Finsteraarhorn (next to the North Face of Mount Eiger)

First we walked along the Aare Canal where the boats come in to dock after the Lake Thun round trips. This boat has to manoever in backwards as it cannot turn around in the canal. This was a beautiful steamship. If it hadn't been such a nice day for walking, we might have taken a boat ride on this one instead

 

VIDEO:  

Steam Boat on the Aare Canal on Lake Thun

(It comes in backwards so it can leave again facing the front)

To start the planned hike, we first had to cross the beautiful wooden bridge and then walk along the promenade, with the lovely skyline of Thun behind us

 

With the castle, church and wooden bridge, Thun is a very pretty city

Actually, the low bank of fog above the city should have been a sign that the fog was going to move over the lake soon

 

As we head along the promenade on the left, we watched the steamboat head out to the lake for the next round tour. For now, the Bernese Alps are looking quite wonderful.

Along the lake in this area are lots of castles.

 

And a surprise to see flowering gentians in the gardens! The climate is fairly mild on this sunny exposed side of Lake Thun

Our plan B for the day: Walk from Thun to Oberhofen on a section of Trail no. 26: "Panorama Round Tour Lake Thun". We have already done the section bottom right, but still have to walk along the South side of the lake.

We had to walk through some residential neighbourhoods away from the lake to head up the hillside for our walk (eastward) along the panorama trail. In the mountain range at the back is a very distinctive peak called Mount Stockhorn.

 

Close-up view of the unusual peak called Mount Stockhorn. There is a panorama restaurant up there and a cable car you can take to get there. 

 

Here we had our coffee break, and the man in the back is the one who had walked over to us to "tell us a story" for about 10 minutes, before heading back the way he came.

By this time, the clouds had unfortunately already moved in, so we didn't get the fabulous mountain view I had hoped to from up here.

Low clouds covering the peaks, but the sun rays looked pretty

Below is Oberhofen with its castle, this is the goal of our hike

Just before our descent we found a farm selling cheese produced in the next valley over, the Justistal Valley, where the farmer's cows graze in the summer. This time we didn't like the cheese very much. Usually they are quite good.

 

And on a small rise above the city of Oberhofen was a castle ruins we wanted to look at before the final descent.....

 

.... but we could not find the ruins at all. Funny, considering the very long description of it on the information panel

Heading down to Oberhofen. 

Old historical farmhouse in Oberhofen built in 1800.

 

Formerly an Augustine Monastery with the inscription "1627" on the door lintel.

Some pretty fancy apartments? Or maybe a hotel? Not sure

The castle in Oberhofen. 

 

We had 15 minutes before the bus, and the clouds were clearing, so we did a quick round tour of the lake promenade for a final look at the Bernese Alps. This group is called the Blümlisalp Massif.

Last view of Mounts Mönch and Jungfrau on the left. This was at 3:30 p.m. In winter, we need to end our hikes by 4 p.m.

 

And to the South, the low clouds are still hanging over the lake.

Castle wall in Oberhofen

Castle in Oberhofen. Unfortunately closed to visitors in winter.

10-km hike from train station in Thun, to the hills above the city, and down to Oberhofen. In 2015 we did another section of this panorama trail, starting above Oberhofen and walking East to Sigriswil, from where we still have a small section that needs completing

We could have been in Thun in just over 2 hours. Instead, we went to Meiringen first, and changed our plans from there, which meant it took us about 3 and a half hours to get to Thun!