Route: Männlichen to Alpiglen
Area: Lauterbrunnental, Switzerland
Date of walk: 16th June 2024
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 6.0 miles
Ascent: 400 feet (and 2,400 feet descent)
Weather: Sunshine and clouds
After yesterday’s poor weather walk, when the surrounding mountains had been covered by cloud, it was good to wake up to clear views of the snow clad mountains from our hotel room. We caught the first cable car from our base in Wengen to the station at Männlichen. Before setting off on the walk to Alpiglen we made a there and back detour to the summit of Männlichen (2342 m), a very easy climb along the ‘Royal Walk‘ which took about 10 minutes. The views from the summit were superb and, thanks to our early start, we had the place to ourselves
We retraced our steps to Männlichen cable car station and set off on the waymarked path to Alpiglen, known as the Romantic Trail. We followed the better known Panorama Trail for a while, to a point where it was closed on account of heavy snow last week. The path to Alpiglen branched off to the left and we followed it downhill. We’d been walking in the clouds at first, with limited visibility, but they gradually parted to reveal some wonderful views, including the Wetterhorn, Rosenhorn and the Eiger
The narrow twisting path descended gently through meadows in the general direction of the Eiger, with new views around every corner. On reaching Arvengarten we turned left to follow another spectacular path, with the North Face of the Eiger towering overhead – a fearsome sight which we enjoyed in complete safety. Eventually we arrived at Alpiglen, where there is a request stop station. From here we caught the Wengernalpbahn cog railway, the longest cog railway in the world. This whisked us up to Kleine Scheidegg, where we took the train back down to Wengen. It had been a fabulous day – one of the very best and I hope that the photos will convey the grandeur of the scenery
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A promising start to the day as we look along the Lauterbrunnen Valley from our base in Wengen
Another view along the valley as we made our way to the cable car station to catch the first cable car at 8.30am
A few minutes later we alight at Männlichen to be greeted by a wonderful array of peaks at the head of the Lauterbrunnen Valley - Grosshorn, Breithorn (the tallest at 3,782m), Tschingelhorn and Gspaltenhorn
Before setting off to Alpiglen we made a quick there and back detour along the Royal Walk to Männlichen, here looking back to the cable car station
Zooming in on Tschuggen, with the Jungfrau in the background
Looking back to the foot of the Jungfrau
The Lauterbrunnen Valley below
Thanks to our early start there was hardly anyone else around as we made the easy climb up to Männlichen
Summit of Männlichen at the end of the Royal Walk - it's a popular place, which is why we made an early start
Fast moving clouds swept across the summit area and we were in mist sometimes - but then they parted and we had some wonderful views...
The Jungfrau left and Breithorn right
Looking back to the cable car station at Männlichen as we complete the detour and set off along the Romantic Trail to Alpiglen
Männlichen again
No photos of the early part of the trail, as we were walking in the clouds with no views. They gradually lifted to reveal the wonderful surroundings
The Eiger
Wetterhorn and Rosenhorn beyond the ridge
The Eiger again. The final section of the route will pass along its foot, just below the clouds
The path is easy to follow and is mostly downhill at a gentle gradient
The Eiger again
A heavenly section of the walk, and what's more we had the paths to ourselves
Wetterhorn
Looking down into the Grindelwald Valley
The north face of the Eiger
Changing vistas as the path twists and turns - Grindelwald below
The Eiger again...
Schreckhorn
Grindelwald and Wetterhorn
A short woodland section
We descend to the plateau below
We pass through Arvengarten and turn left to follow the path to Alpiglen
We head towards the Eiger and will follow a path below the clouds
Walking below the Eiger...
Wildflowers in the meadows on both sides of the path...
Looking up the north face of the Eiger, 2,000m of almost vertical limestone. It's hard to believe that this is a climbing route
Looking across to the start - Männlichen is just below the cable car
The path crosses the Wengernalp cog railway line
Cowbells sounding ahead
We pass by the herd. They are gentle creatures and are probably accustomed to passing walkers
Grazing the meadows...
We arrive at Alpiglen, where an ice cold beer went down a treat
Our train comes in, and the cog railway takes us back to Wengen. It had been a wonderful walk, one of the very best
