Bicycle tours by water in Lucerne – Lake Lucerne

A rattling goods train carrying Napf gravel, evidence of backbreaking work on the land at Burgrain, the shimmer of the Sempachersee lake, the early Romanesque church at Chilchbüehl, cherry trees alternating with dairy farming, pig breeding and farm dogs.

Wild when the föhn wind blows: the mighty Vierwaldstättersee with its impressive panorama. In contrast, the shallow Sarnersee with its Obwalden «Brother Klaus» landscape. A treat for pedal-pushing fans: the Panoramastrasse, the steep pass to Entlebuch.

You hardly touch a corner of the Vierwaldstättersee and Pilatus stands in the way. Cove after cove, direct to Luzern, target of every tourist. Even prettier, the Zugersee, delicious Kirschtorte to make mouths water, tax rates to please purses.

The Rhone Route runs through the magnificent mountain scenery of the Valais on charming, quiet paths along the Rhone. It leads along the famous palm-lined promenades of Lac Léman and the picturesque Lavaux vineyards and ends at cosmopolitan Genève.

Pretty and useful, the energy-supplying Sihlsee; split by the lake dam, the Zürichsee with its villa shores; the land drainage project by unconventional engineer H.C. Eschert, the Linth plain with canal, new fields and pastureland.

The Urnerland, an incessant, nervously pulsating transit corridor, where the wild Reuss plunges down through the Schöllenenschlucht (gorge), subdued only by sheer mountain walls and the Teufels Brücke (Devil’s Bridge).

Lush green flower meadows, fascinating fauna, an emerald green mountain lake with temperatures as high as 23 degrees and a fantastic view of the mountains – you'll find it all in the village of Lungern.

A perspiring uphill pedal, wonderful views of the Vierwaldstättersee and Rigi mountain. Küssnacht was a harbour town on the old Gotthard route. A winding, lake-panorama stretch leads to mild Gersau with palms and chestnut trees, and on to Brunnen.

The sparkling source of the Rhine rises in the Oberalp region close to the pass. In Val Tujetsch lies one of the richest and most fascinating sources of mineral deposits in the Alps and also the monastery village of Disentis.

The start in the stony Alpine reduit (fortress), over the treeless pastures of the Urserental, perspiring on the climb to the 2430m Furkapass and an indescribable freewheel past the ice caves of the Rhone Glacier.

Over the Lindenberg into Freiamt, sweeping alongside the train to Zug, where towering office blocks contrast with the pleasant old town, winding north with the Sihl, through the lonely Sihlwald forest, an area of wilderness at the gates of the city.