My love of Switzerland stems from childhood holidays. We went every third year and I was even then captivated by the sheer scale of the mountain landscapes in which we walked, as well as being enthralled by the character and number of mountain railways, cablecars and chairlifts – much more fun than cablecars.
Returning in my twenties, I realised that, quite apart from the fact that Switzerland has far more than its fair share of Europe’s finest landscapes, the country is a paradigm for responsible tourism. Environmental considerations are generally to the fore in the planning and execution of any developments, and it has unquestionably the finest public transport system in the world.
Most mountain areas are thankfully roadless so a car is a pointless encumbrance. It’s much better to rely on the Swiss Travel System and the range of passes, which are excellent value. Swiss precision applies to all forms of transport, which are admirably integrated and reliable. During research for the book I often took up to 25 separate journeys in a day, switching from train to bus to funicular to lake steamer, generally with connections of under ten or even five minutes. In many months of travel, I missed one connection.
My purpose in writing the book was to encourage travellers to have a much more rewarding experience while minimising their footprint. Writers seldom receive feedback unless they commit a howler, but one day a letter in spidery handwriting arrived via the publisher. It was from a retired gentleman who said that he had never managed to persuade his wife to venture abroad; this book convinced her to give Switzerland a try, and since the first successful visit they had been going every year. No writer could ask for a better reward.
