Röthenbach i.E. to Bowil

Franziska with Elly (01.05.2024):

Escaping the hustle and bustle of Interlaken for a day, Elly and I set off for the Emmental early in the morning.

We travel by train via Thun-Konolfingen to Signau and from there we take the bus to Röthenbach im Emmental. For those traveling by car, I recommend leaving the car at the P+&Rail station in Bowil and taking public transport from there to Röthenbach im Emmental.

After an initial snack break, we set off from the village bus stop and head left past the church, up the small flight of steps and away from the busy road on a meadow path.

We haven't gone far yet, so Elly has to be patient with me for the first time and interrupt her extensive sniffing tour. My mistress was delighted to see that there are some geocaches hidden along today's hiking route that need to be logged. And now, after just a few steps, the first stopover. If Elly could roll her eyes... To all those of you who can't "just go hiking" and "have to" log a cache "quickly" everywhere: This is a great hike with multicaches, a virtual cache, puzzle caches and even an adventure lab to discover - and during the week with almost no muggles to disturb you, so great!

The path leads us slightly uphill via Würzbrunnen past the former pilgrimage church to the Chuderhüsi restaurant. On the way, we admire the magnificent panorama towards the Bernese Alps and enjoy the soothing tranquillity in the moss-covered fir forests - simply beautiful and indescribable. Two or three geocaches logged ... and there's no shortage of benches to rest on along the way. One thing is clear to me. The two of us will be back here again very soon and what we will definitely take with us is a delicious sausage to grill. The opportunities at the well-equipped barbecue sites along the way are unbeatable. Thanks to all those who set up these places and maintain them so well.

We make our next stop at the Chuderhüsi tower, 10 minutes from the restaurant. (Yes, it really is called that) This 42-metre high wooden tower was built and opened in 1998 as part of Röthenbach's 850th anniversary celebrations. However, less than three years passed and the tower burned down completely due to careless handling of fire on the viewing platform. Immediately after this sad event, it was decided to rebuild the tower. Elly and I, the latter with shaky legs, climb the countless wooden steps to the viewing platform far above the fir trees and are rewarded at the top with a wonderful panoramic view over forests and the Emmental hills all the way to the Alps.

If you are traveling with children, the observation tower offers another great opportunity for a break. There are several well-equipped barbecue areas with benches and tables, and as soon as you've quenched your hunger and thirst, you'll find your children playing hide-and-seek or building huts in the moss-covered fir forest.

Once we have safely descended from the tower, the two of us continue our hike and from now on the trail descends steadily, in places along a stream, towards Bowil. Here, too, we are mostly on unpaved paths in the forest. If we ever pass by in the fall, we will take a small container with us to fill with the fine blueberries that ripen everywhere here. Shortly before Bowil, we reach the paved road and follow it for about 5 minutes until we can branch off onto a dirt road again, which quickly takes us to our destination, Bowil railroad station. There is a fountain here and Elly can quench her thirst. We don't have to wait much longer and the train from Langnau takes us back to Interlaken via Konolfingen - Thun.