Pedestrians, carriages and clattering hooves: the car-free holiday resort of Braunwald is full of nostalgic charm and unhurried tranquillity. On the gently sloping sun terrace that faces south-west high above the Linth Valley (1,300m above sea level), the panorama of the Glarus Alps including the Ortstock, Tödi, Biferten and Hausstock seems close enough to touch. The silence on the winter hiking trails creates a fairy-tale atmosphere.

The classic trail to the Nussbüel runs on largely flat terrain through woodlands and past small, rippling mountain streams. Lasting about an hour, the hike is particularly popular among families. It ends at the traditional Restaurant Nussbüel, where hikers can look forward to a comfortable sun terrace, a cosy parlour and the house speciality, renowned far and wide: homemade Gugelhupf cake. The way back follows the same path to the Braunwald mountain station, where the funicular railway overcomes a gradient of 64 per cent to carry guests down into the valley.

Tip: the hike is particularly romantic in the evening. Enjoy a fondue at the Restaurant Nussbüel before making the journey home with torches in your hands. If you like, you can even book a horse-drawn carriage.