(Simon writes:) My first visit to Switzerland in 2017 was to the Western end of the Alpine Pass Route. We are adding this to the Central week, and aiming to add the East later in Summer.

Basel airport is a big base for easyJet, with several routes to the UK. Although Basel is right in the North of Switzerland, the good trains make it easy to reach the Alps.

Basel on the river.

Basel SBB train station, as opposed to the French-railways station on the other side of town.

Fabulous historic Bern, capitol of Switzerland and boasting miles of arcaded streets. The quantity of outside bars and small shops, housed in the arcades, has to be seen. On a warm June evening, outside the city centre the suburbs host neighbourhood bars where workers gather on the streets.

In Lenk, a small resort in the Simmental, with outside drinking at a wine cafe.

Green painted shutters on this neat house in Lenk.

Snow remains above 2,000m but only in tiny patches.

The famous Swiss signposts, here at the Trutlisbergpass.

This is the format of a Swiss postbus timetable. Our APR will stay in Gstaad, a bus ride off-route at both Lauenen and Gsteig.

Gsteig, near the French-language border, with old wooden doors.

Typing up my notes with a beer.

Bread in a Swiss bag, Gstaad.

Post buses wait for a train at Gstaad.

Walking to Gsteig, rolling meadows, an old barn, and the Diablerets peak behind.

At Les Diablerets under the APR, the menu of the day at the Auberge de la Poste.

Trains and buses at Aigle, on the main line to Montreux.

The summit and station of the Rochers de Nayes, a final blast of a peak on the APR.

Well into rolling terrain now, the hillsides near Montreux.

Our path drops in twists and turns.

Cute trees show that this is a certified forest.

La Suisse, a paddle steamer that plies Lac Leman from Montreux to Lausanne and further points. This is a nice alternative to the train.

Our steamer cruises the Lac Leman, stopping at all the towns en route to Lausanne. School children and local residents get on and off, as well as tourists there for the ride.

'Coiffure Dames' - ladies' hairdressing in the old town of Lausanne.

Landing at Edinburgh. Lucky visitors to our Northern city will have seen this view, including Arthur's Seat and Edinburgh Castle, by sitting on the port side on a good day!

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 Alpine Pass Route West - our self-guided holiday