Gürbe–Sense

An up-hill and down-dale route to the southwest of Bern. Past small, mostly warm moraine lakes such as the Amsoldingersee and Uebischersee in the Gürbetal plain. The rigid geometric shape of the drained moorland is broken up by old peat huts and single trees. An easy roll through Chabisland (cabbage country), often along the banks of the Gürbe. After Belp, the air space is taken over by light aircraft and small silver jets.

Stay on low ground and ride straight into the capital, passing the bear pit and the Parliament House. Once you've seen the sights of the Old Town with its arcades, clock tower and numerous sculpted fountains from the 16th century, the view suddenly changes: Bümpliz and the Wangen Valley are dominated by industrial and commercial buildings. Not for long, though: after Thörishaus, the route runs straight to the wild River Sense.

After Sensematt, the busy Sense becomes calmer, you enjoy a pleasant pedal on the dam to Laupen and through the old town, with its typical veranda houses. After the impressive Saane, across yet another rolling plateau to reach the Bern-Fribourg border region and Golaten.

At Niederried, you cross the Aare and follow its banks to the popular tourist town of Aarberg, built on a rocky spur surrounded by the river. With its historic cluster of traditional houses and 60-metre-long covered wooden bridge, the town has retained every ounce of its late-medieval charm.