Good friends have asked me to help them plan a roughly ten day walking vacation in CH. The problem for me is that while they have substantial horizontal endurance (up to 10 or 12 miles) they want essentially flat walks. That is something I have no experience with.
They are at a very early stage of the planning, but it seems that they would like to spend three to five days in one place, and a full week renting an apartment in a second one. They will be flying in and out of Innsbruck.
It would seem to me to be a shame to stay in the flat parts of CH, far from the alpine views. My experience, though, is that there temd to be very few flat walks in alpine regions; often one walk along the valley, with all others involving more vertical than my friends want.
The one exception that comes to my mind in Lauterbrunnen. I have never stayed there (been in Mürren three times) but would guess that, with trips up to Mürren and Wengen, they could easily get a week of flat walks with great views (weather allowing, of course ). Comments from more knowledgeable people welcome!
An alternative, of course, would be a bigger town with travel required for most walks. The advantage would be more options in case of bad weather. Again, I have tended to avoid towns on my trips to CH.
One of our favourite alpine walks is the Fafflerlap in the Lötschental Valley- river, glaciers, lakes, fabulous flowers and butterflies, golden eagles, etc.
Also, as you well know, the walk from above Les Haudères to the glacier. And even better walk all the Bisses- the ancient water canalisation from the glaciers to the valley- which, by definition, have to be very gentle. I picked up a brochure last week with all of them- happy to send it on to you against postage.
Otherwise- the Crêtes du Jura walk, from Geneva to Basel or Zurich- is much gentler terrain, and generally flat(er) than the Alps. Happy to help them plan this if they wish- and provide accom half-way. Just Google Crêtes du Jura walk.
Bisses have to have just the right gradient - too steep and the water overflows, too flat and sediment gathers and ... wather overflows- perfect for gentle walking. We intend to do some of those after ma new knee has settle in- for that very reason.
Haut Nendaz area is wonderful for summer walking of that type. It has the canals built into the hills for flat walking, but you can also go up gentle (or not) mountains or get a lift up and walk down. There are a large range of walks, so something new every day. We walked one day to a village set into the cliff of a mountain, quite spectacular but I can't recall what it was called.
From an email I got from them: That, Odile, would exclude the Crêtes du Jura; I have hiked two sections from St. Cergue and they are clearly unsuitable. The bisses are also too narrow, and while they are flat the access to them often is much less so.
What made me think of Lauterbrunnen is that there almost certainly are flat walks in the valleys of both Lütschines (no idea how good the views are from the bottom of the valleys) and that a short trip to Mürren and Wengen should give a couple more flat hikes with spectacular views. Zweilütschinen might be another option.
What about the Upper Engadine in Graubünden? There is a great lift/train system which can take hikers to fairly high up elevations for panorama routes, so one gets great views without too much exertion. I love it for that. It would take a little planning in order to avoid some steeper downhills on the returns, but there are ways to hook up with other train lines/lifts. Not to mention all the beautiful lake walks and the Swiss National Park nearby that may also have a few fairly flat walks.
Also has the added benefit of being very accessible by train from Innsbruck.
Actually writing this from Lauterbrunnen and can highly recommend the Jungfrau region for hiking in the summer (and for Winterwanderwegs in the winter as well, of course). If your friends genuinely prefer downhill and/or flat, there are a number of easy walks with epic views that I can suggest.
There is a path from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg that is only open in the high summer, take the train to Wengen and then the cable car up to Männlichen and head around the mountain Tschuggen to Kleine Scheidegg. This path is essentially flat with a small drop down to KS, where they can stop for a restorative lunch or similar and press on down the mountain all the way to Wengen or even right back down to Lauterbrunnen. There is about a 1000m drop between Männlichen and Wengen, spread over about 8km and with groomed and clearly marked paths. Oh yes and with truly spectacular views of the north face of the Eiger, of the Mönch, and the Jungfrau. Some of the paths are steep but not dangerous and can be managed with sticks even by those with dodgy knees (not me, at the moment). This is one of my favourite walks in Switzerland. You can also walk down to Grindelwald from Männlichen through differing countryside - alpine flower meadows, heath and rolling green fields.
The Lauterbrunnen valley itself - with its proud claim to 72 waterfalls in the summer - has some lovely flat walks along the valley floor itself, either to the end of the valley to Stechelberg (where you can find the cable car to the Schilthorn, the revolving restaurant which is the baddie's den in On Her Majesty's Secret Service) or in the other direction, past Zweilütschinen even all the way to Interlaken. The views in the valley itself are amazing - it was the inspiration for Tolkien's Rivendell and with the Staubbach waterfall which cascades down about 300m.
There are also pleasant walks to be had on the other side of the Lauterbrunnen valley, up at Mürren, through the forest with stunning views over the mountains. The public transport system is amazing and serves the entire Jungfrau region with cog wheel railways, cable cars and Postbuses.
And to have a little flavour of Swiss lakes, there are boat trips on the Thunersee and the Brienzersee which can be taken from Interlaken.
I adore this region and spend weeks here holidaying summer and winter, trekking happily back from the Netherlands, and will answer with pleasure any questions if that might help.
I had thought about that region, especially in view if its proximity to Innsbruck. However the last time I visited it was in 1951, so I cannot recommend it myself, and can give no specific advice.
I would very much appreciate suggestions for a base in which to rent an apartment for a week.
Many thanks for confirming what I had suspected. I did one walk down from Mürren to Stechelberg (via Gimmelwald) and on to Lauterbrunnen, taking the train back to Mürren, and admired the many waterfalls. Are the major peaks (Jungfrau and neighbors) visible from the valley? Not terribly important as there are at least a couple of suitable walks from Mürren with spectacular views.
The trip is related to a work trip, so the dates (very early June) are carved in stone. Probably not yet high summer, and I believe there should still be snow at higher elevations.
I know that you asked for CH recommendations but what about Austria or Italy? The Dolomites are close to Innsbruck and are relatively flattish and extremely scenic. Val Gardena is a nice starting point. Or for Austria, head a bit east to the Salzkammergut region. Plenty of trails near lakes that will not have too much climbing involved. Or get a tram to the top of the mountains to find some good traverses.
I'm partial to Sils Maria. Can set off from there for Pontresina, Poschiavo, Bergell, St. Moritz, Maloja etc. (Some obviously farther than others!) And lots of holiday flats. Celerina could be a really nice base too. I would avoid St. Moritz Dorf as there would always be a hill to contend with. Others might have suggestions for the Lower Engandin, which I really don't know as well.
The former gives the official marked routes and includes distance and inclines. The latter allow you to plot a route and it will deliver stats on distance - height up and down - and highest/lowest points.
It is worth remembering that although downhill can sound easy - sustained alpine descents can be harder work than uphill - especially on the knees and quads.
One option would be Appenzellerland/Toggenburg. Not the Hochalpen but still very scenic. There are lots of buses so if they're tired they can hop on a bus to get them the remainder of the tour they planned for. The Lake of Constance is in easy reach for some very nice boat roundtrips/tours.
Another option might be bicycles (or tri-bike if not used to bikes), perhaps with electric support? That would increase their range considerably.
You are quite right, depending on how warm the spring is, there could well be snow on the walk between Männlichen and Kleine Scheidegg, we have certainly encountered it at the end of June, and of course the White Giants (the Jungfrau and its neighbours) are snowy all year round and with glaciers visible. Only the end wall of the Jungfrau and the Silberhorn are visible from the floor of the Lauterbrunnen valley, but a higher elevation will reveal the three peaks, and there are mountains such as the Breithorn at the Stechelberg end of the valley should you head that way, and Schynige Platte and the Beatenberg visible if you walk down towards Interlaken.
I would also recommend Lauterbrunnen as a base to rent an apartment for a week...... but then I would say that, wouldn't I, seeing as I spend nearly every holiday god sends here ?