Pioneered largely by Italian troops in the Dolomites during the First World War, a via ferrata, or ‘iron way’, is a mountain route equipped with fixed cables, ladders, rungs and anchors. Just opened in Switzerland’s Lauterbrunnen Valley, south of Interlaken, is a new route, linking the Alpine villages of Mürren and Gimmelwald.
Filling the gap – in thin air if necessary – between hiking and mountaineering, many have become adventure attractions in their own right. Descending 300m and covering 2km distance, Mürren’s new klettersteig, as it’s known in German, embraces every facet of the form. According to Martin Schürmann, its designer, local people hope it will draw more visitors to a region already famed for skiing, walking and sensational views of the Eiger and Jungfrau.
From stepped rungs bolted into the hillside, visitors descend sharply through woods and past overhangs before emerging onto a cliff face where 2,000 feet lie between your trembling toes and the valley floor. There are further treats, like a flying fox that whisks you across a ravine followed by a suspension bridge that sways with each step across a sheer gorge. A climbing belt and karabiners secured to a fixed line and helmet ensure your survival.
Guided tours for groups of four cost £47 per person. klettersteig-muerren.ch
