Today we’d planned a big day trip – to Grindelwald in the Bernese Alps. The forecast top was only about 14 degrees, with a lot of cloud and rain patches, however there appeared to be a sunny patch for a couple of hours after midday. So trying for an early start, we went ahead with our big plans.

Despite best endeavours we still weren’t able to get out the door until 9.20am (after I made a quick trip down to the bakery for baguettes, puffing quite a bit on the steep ascent back to the house). The drive was good, and we enjoyed the winding roads east of Rougemont, noticing the change in the language from French to German after only five minutes of driving. Before long we were driving along the banks of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz – the two lakes either side of Interlaken. Another twenty minutes and we were reminiscing about our trip to Europe ten years ago as we drove slowly through the picturesque streets of Grindelwald.

The town has changed a lot in ten years and is now a lot more developed, and probably more trendy than it used to be. We quickly coughed up for four hours of parking, and made our way up to Grindelwald-First base station.

The kids were really excited hopping on the cable car; Amelia was a bit more nervous than excited. However as soon as the sturdy car set off, we were all lost in the most amazing views over Grindelwald and the mountains beyond. In the foreground we could make out hikers, hang-gliders, dotted house roofs, and other details of the village. Further out the mighty mountains of Hirelini (2,355m), Grossenegg (2,622m), Oberjoch (2,501m), Wildgerst (2,892m), Gemsberg (2,659m) and Schwartzhorn (2,928m) were visible peaking out through the clouds. We cleared the first intermediate station Boart (1,570m), then passed the second station Schreckfeld (1,955m) before finishing the journey at First (2,168m).

Somewhere just below First we found visibility significantly reduced, as we were effectively in the cloud, with mists swirling around. Looking down the visibility was excellent, however if we looked up or out, it was hit and miss whether we’d get a quick glimpse of snow-capped peaks, or whether we’d be staring at a cloud.

As we were short of time and stamina, we didn’t attempt the two hour return trip around the lake, however we did accomplish the slightly scary cliff-top walk, complete with cantilevered glass bottom finish. We ate half our packed lunch gazing at the most amazing views, before commencing our descent. There is a flying fox that operates from First down to Shreckfeld, during which the riders hit around 80kms/hr, however due to height and weight restrictions, Annie and Oscar wouldn’t have been able to do this. So we hiked down the first leg to Shreckfeld, before Oscar and Amelia hopped back on the cable car, and Zach, Annie and I tried our hand at mountain carts.

These three wheeled carts are sort of like a big billy-cart, with bicycle type hand brakes that operate on the left and right rear wheels. You need to use them simultaneously or the cart will quickly veer off over the edge of the path. I went first and set the pace, with Annie and then Zach following. Within seconds we picked up some serious speed down the steep slopes, and we had to be really careful not to lose control over the loose gravelly track. We stopped a couple of times to courteously let the cows (all with massive bells) have right of way, and stopped a few more times to take some photos to try and convey the beautiful views surrounding us. We almost lost Zach at one stage (he took a wrong turn and almost attempted the mountainside without a path), before finally pulling in at Bort, where Amelia and Oscar were waiting for us.

The kids had a play for a while on the quality playground, and we finished the remains of our lunch and snacks, before Zach, Annie and I started the walk from Bort down to Grindelwald. Amelia and Oscar gave us a ten-minute head start, but it didn’t take long for them to quickly pass us on the cable car. Waving to them and trying to race them down the hill, it didn’t take long for the steep hills to take their toll on our quad muscles, and Zach and Annie took some coaxing to make it all the way down (not sure what they thought the alternative was!).

Glad to have finally made it to the bottom, we quickly recharged, and then hopped back in the car and made our way back through Grindelwald, and then drove the 20 minute trip to Lauterbrunnen. Just beyond this town lies the Trummelbach Falls.

To access the falls (after forking out 30 Swiss Francs for entry), we entered an underground funicular, which made its way quickly upwards before we exited on the face of the mountain. After a few more steps we entered the tunnels running right up to the massive underground waterfalls. Even before we approached the falls we could hear the rushing water, and once inside noise was extraordinary. You feel like you want to scream or shout or laugh, what with the pounding sound of the water, the amazing sight of the rushing torrents, the feeling of spray on skin, and the slightly uneasy feeling as your walk up steep slippery steps in the semi-darkness on the edge of an almighty drop.

The falls are another fantastic attraction of the Interlaken region, and we were all very glad that we’d made the effort to visit them. The trip home went quickly, having only recently discovered that ipads in the car makes for three happy children, and therefore happy parents and a successful long distance car trip.

Overall it was a brilliant day, probably the best of our trip so far, so apologies for going overboard with the photos - just trying to convey how magnificent the views were.