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Sorry, I didn't know that was possible (to review). Yes to tips!  Get the train from Lauterbrunnen to Brienz (the town on the lake of the same name), change in Interlaken or simply drive. It's not far, about 20-25 miles at a guess. There was an hour to wait between trains, so if the same applies, come out of the station and walk across the square in front of you. At the other side there's a Co-op with a nice restaurant upstairs. Also a good place to buy fruit and veg, etc. At Brienz get off the train, walk over the railway crossing and there will be a bus waiting, (or a paddle steamer on the lake!). Get a bus ticket to Ballenberg museum. This is a 200 acre park with old Swiss houses/chalets saved and rebuilt there. The bus stops right outside (don't do what we did and get off after seeing a road sign) then have to walk 5Km!). It's great but take your walking shoes & drinks and allow plenty of time. See my newer post about caravanning in winter and skiing in the area. All the non-skiing things mentioned are also open in summer. A nice walk is to get the bus along the valley to Stechelberg (near the end of the valley through Lauterbrunnen) and get the cablecar up to Murren. Railways and cablecars up to the villages are cheap, if you go further up to go walking, they sting you; this is because people live in the villages, obviously, and it keeps the prices down for them as the railways and cablecars are the only sensible access. Then walk through Murren (past the railway station) and keep going 3Km to Winteregg. Have lunch! Or, if a Sunday, leave early (7.30) have breakfast (if advertised) and listen to the church service. Then walk past the restaurant, on the same side of the railway as the restaurant, (the skinny barrier is to keep the cows in) through the meadows and past the cows (with cowbells!) down the wide path to Lauterbrunnen. For goodness sake don't take the forest path, it's a killer on the legs! Lovely views of Wengen over the valley.

Another 2 hour walk is to come out of the site and walk down the road to the left, away from the village. In about 3/4 mile follow the sign to the Trummelbach Falls. Go in there to cool off - a funicular in the mountain takes you up to a series of caverns with thundering waterfalls. SF11.

It was 28 - 30C when we were there, so don't think it'll be cold! It got quite cool at night, though.

Lauterbrunnen has an outdoor swimming pool but it's not obvious, it's on the 'up' side of the village, about in the middle and there is a small sign to it. There are small shops and a couple of small supermarkets. Try and find the little gift shop on the 'down' (railway side) of the main road with the singing marmots.. (sad, I know). Lady owner speaks good English, and most people in the shops are okay with English. Nice cake and bread shop opposite 'Crystal' ski and clothing shop does a 'deal' for a coffee and a choice of cake - go for the ones in the chiller cabinet!

Interlaken didn't have much to offer us, a few pretentious hotels and shops and the rest was commonplace, but not unpleasant.  However, we were walking past the park and a parapenter landed next to us! He must have come a long way! We've only walked through the town in winter, so summer may be better.

We've never been to the Schynigge Platte but it's reputed to be v.good. It's via a mountain railway from Interlaken station. At the top there's a special garden (flowers are best in August, we were told) and you can get a rail ticket which includes lunch in the restaurant on the top.

Camping Jungfrau has everything. There's a superb kitchen (only the ovens have a meter) with crockery, hobs, microwaves, table & chairs etc. The newer loos are like a 4 star hotel, there are washing machines, dryers, even dishwashers. It's not cheap, about £20 a night for two & motorhome. Finding the site is tricky the first time. Go straight through the village (straight road) and just as the road bends to the left towards the church, go slightly right/straight on through a narrowish gap between two buildings. Site is 1/4 mile on left. You won't appreciate the mountain scenery until you get right up either the mountain railway past Wengen or up the Schilthorn mountain. I'd recommend the latter for a day trip via the longest cablecar run in Europe, four of them, or splash out and go to the 'Top of Europe' by cog railway from Kleine Scheidegg, which is after Wengen. You will never forget it. If you are going for about a week, DO get a railway pass. It's far cheaper to get about and Camping Jungfrau sell them - and all other tickets. The girls in the reception are great, very knowledgeable and speak excellent English.The shop there 'rents' those blue cool box blocks at 20cents a time. There's also a chest freezer in the TV room just past the loos in the central loo block in the middle of the site.It was a TV rooom when we were there, for the World Cup. May be just a common room.

There are two other campsites in the village, next one is past the church on the left, the other is right through the village 1 mile on the right. Both are ordinary in comparison, but cheaper.

I think I mentioned the thermal spa in Leukerbad. You could do it for an unusual day trip in the car. From Interlaken go to Spiez and follow the signs for Kandersteg (to the left). Get on the train through the mountain (SF10 -£4.50) which goes every 15 mins. This chucks you out into the Rhone Valley. Go along the valley to the right and follow the map & signs up to Leukerbad, rather spectacularly set in a semi-circle of jagged peaks. Go to the Burgerbad (big modern pool complex) in the middle of the village and wallow for a few hours in the thermal waters - great! We did it in our big motorhome so your Volvo will have no trouble. Don't forget your cossies!

Have fun!

I didn't mention that the Kandersteg train is a vehicle carrying train like the Channel Tunnel uses, you stay in your vehicle. A large coach was in front of us so I think it can accommodate any size vehicle. You really need to refer to a map of the area to make sense of the above..

Wow thats absolutley fantastic thank you so much for all the information!!

I'm off to start packing only 3 weeks to go!

Caroline

Don't mind unisex showers but a site we stayed at in the Dordogne, some years ago, took the biscuit - minorly obscure glass doors on both showers and loos! We had to go in pairs, with one standing outside the door whilst the other used the convenience! Bizarre!

(Sorry, think I am responding to earlier posts in this thread and seems somehow unconnected at this point!)