Panoramas, foliage and nature: Autumn experiences in the Alps
Between Emmental and Ticino, pleasures and routes to be discovered by train
A different kind of weekend in the colours of autumn can also begin on board a train, and boarding the Green Train of the Alps takes you from Piedmont to Switzerland along a scenic route through valleys and mountain villages, where you can stop to discover the local culinary delights. In Spiez, for example, just 15 minutes from the station begins the Vineyard Sensory Adventure Trail, a one-hour journey to discover the culture of wine, which uses information panels to interactively narrate the cycle of cultivation, offering a unique view of Lake Thun and the Alps. Until 31 October, a not-to-be-missed adventure for lovers of the genre is the Emmental Beer Trail, a walk of around 9 km through the Sumiswald hills, past medieval castles and ending in the small town of Burgdorf: four gourmet stops for tasting craft beers combined with local gastronomic specialities before the final stop in a typical 'Schützenhaus' on the banks of the river Emme. Still in Switzerland, but in Canton Ticino, autumn is synonymous with nature and adrenaline-pumping activities. There is mountain biking on the tour of Monte Tamaro (which climbs from Rivera to Alpe Foppa and reaches the Valle Vedeggio) with spatial views of the Po Valley and the Valais Alps, and climbing on foot on Monte San Giorgio with its unmistakable pyramid shape. For those who want to switch off in a quiet place, however, the right address is the mountaineers' village of Campo Vallemaggia, while those who love walking in the woods are spoilt for choice between the Onsernone (under Pizzo Ruscada) and Denti della Vecchia forest reserves, the Valle della Motta Park in Basso Mendrisiotto and the Bosco Sacro di Mergugno.
