19 km, walking time 5 hrs 10 min.
Climbs: Brienz 574m, Ebligen suspension bridge 730m, Oberried 586m,
Fahrlouwigraben 780m
Brienz
From Kienholz we follow the lakeshore path to the railway station and the landing pier of Brienz. We continue on the lake promenade until it joins the much-frequented cantonal road at the edge of the village. We cross the road and take the Dorfstrasse (in the direction of Ried and Ebligen) up into the village. There we turn left, come to the railway line which we cross, and come to the “Mülibach” (brook).
Note: Pilgrims wanting to see the interesting village church (the spire dates from 1130) on the former castle hill, turn right after the lake promenade, pass the violin making school and some old chalets, and thus come to the church. To reach the Way of St James again, standing before the church portal, they turn right into the lane, then turn left, following the signpost for Ried and Ebligen until the railway line.
After crossing the “Mülibach”, the route takes us westwards through fields and woods to the clearing “Ried”. From here we go through a forest, at first along a scree-filled ditch, then along a torrent to a theme route climbing up through a beautiful forest-landscape. The theme-route offers explanations on different types of trees. In a small wooden box we find a leaflet with interesting forestry themes.
Suspension bridge Ebligen
At the end of the theme route, we return the leaflet into the box provided so that hikers in the opposite direction can use it again. Above Ebligen, we come to the wild “Ebligengraben” torrent. We cross it on a gently swaying suspension bridge, about 1 metre wide and 70 metres long. The massive steel construction can be trusted without fear. Bikers must dismount and push their bike. This bridge is dismantled in winter because of the danger of avalanches. For information, contact the above-indicated address in Oberried. During that period we must, before reaching the Ebligengraben, descend to Ebligen on a quite steep path, cross the torrent, climb steeply up again on the opposite side to reach the “Jakobsweg” again. We therefore recommend taking variant B via Giessbach – Iseltwald between late autumn and April or May.
After the suspension bridge, we walk on the forest lane in a south-western direction until down to the “Forsthaus” (forester’s house) at Oberried where we find a canopied resting place with grilling site and fountain. After a short stretch, out lane leaves the wood behind, becomes a macadamized road and takes us across pastureland to the “Hirscherenbachgraben”.
Bay of Oberried
After a short while, we pass the first houses of Oberried and come to the “Panoramastrasse”. From here, the outlook over Lake Brienz and the mountains in the background is beautiful. Going westwards, we come to the modern church of Oberried, then we go down to the landing pier after having crossed the railway line and the cantonal road. The lakeshore path then takes us along the bay of Oberried. In the village-part “Derfli” we turn right, climb up to the cantonal road (Brienz – Interlaken) from which a paved road branches off to the right and takes us through pastureland up to the “Haberenwald” forest. We follow the forest lane due west and presently come to a forest path. We follow it along the edge of the wood and then through the “Farlouwigraben” ravine.
Oberried lakeshore
A notice board warns us of rockfall and avalanches. It is advisable to pass the place with caution and without prolonged stops. We continue through wood and clearings, the forest path gradually getting wider, down to the upper part of the village of Niederried. We descend through the village until shortly before the main road where we turn right onto a hiking path leading upwards. This path remains above the cantonal road and leads through the well cared-for “Rosswald” to a big quarry. Here we take the straight path bordered with pack walls and on which we come past wooden houses and stables to the first houses of Ringgenberg, and further down to the cantonal road. We follow it a short while, and after a detour to the railway station, we return to it. Shortly after, we turn off to the left and through the railway underpass we come to the castle ruin and the church of Ringgenberg. The reformed church was integrated into the old castle ruin in 1671-74 by the cathedral builder Abraham Dünz the Elder.
Castle church of Ringgenberg
The new route alignment brings us, coming from the church, past the right-hand side of the old parsonage, and on the so-called “Katzenpfad” (cat’s path) above the lakeshore directly to Goldswil and the railway bridge that crosses the river Aare. Before the bridge, we turn off to the right, walk beside the river, and always following the shore path we pass below the viaduct of the motorway and below the railway bridge and thus come to the Beaurivage bridge at Interlaken.
Alternative route: A rewarding detour leads after the church of Ringgenberg on the right-hand side up into the wood to the idyllic “Burgseeli” (small lake). After this we descend again, pass below the ruin of the Goldswil church and come down to the shore path leading to Interlaken.
Switzerland Mobility - Via Jacobi
Trail map Brünig - Interlaken
