From Marbach you head in direction of Hilferen Pass, turn quickly off to the right and climb through a forest about 500 meters in altitude to Alphütte Hürnli. The construction is typical for buildings in this region with one story and a large slanting roof. In the summer these rustic farmhouses are often decorated with flowers, with cows grazing around it, fresh spring water flowing into the fountain, a Swiss flag snapping in the wind and the mighty Schrattenflue mountain in the background. Quite unexpectedly, this out of the way place shows the kind of Switzerland we only know from postcards.

From Alp Imbrig we later continue on a small road to Marbachegg, the gondola mountain station. While we were mostly on our own so far, we’re back in civilisation now. There is a reason for the sudden crowds: The view from Marchbachegg of the Bernese Alps, the Emmental Valley and the Jura mountains in the back is outstanding. It is particularly impressive in autumn with a layer of fog across the Mittelland area.

There is another highlight to experience before the end: the downhill on the Marbachegg flow trail. It starts out fairly flat, then gets a bit steeper and meanders down along the ski slope. The trail perfectly fits into the terrain. More experienced bikers will have fun with the playful elements, such as the troughs, waves and table-top jumps. There is always the option to roll rather than jump and steeper passages can be bypassed. Therefore, everyone is sure to reach the destination of Marbach with a grin on the face.