Freiburg's cable car in the morning, and the Ravenna Gorge in the afternoon, with cake at Goethe's inn.

Basel is an hour and ten minutes from the Schauinsland valley station, Freiburg's mountain, and an hour and twenty from Hinterzarten. This Sunday combines the two: you ride the cable car up to 1,284 m, eat on the terrace of Die Bergstation looking out over the Vosges and, in the afternoon, walk the Ravenna Gorge loop, a ravine with waterfalls, bridges and stairways that passes the door of the Hofgut Sternen, the inn where Marie Antoinette stopped on her way to Paris and where Goethe slept.

How to get there from Spain

There is a direct flight from several Spanish cities to Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg airport (BSL), which is in France, on the outskirts of Basel, and has an exit to the Swiss and the French side. Hire the car at the airport and arrive the day before: sleep in Basel, in Freiburg or, if you are going to do more than a day, at the Hofgut Sternen itself. Without a car, the train from Basel to Freiburg leaves from Basel's German station (Badischer Bahnhof).

The day, hour by hour

8:45 · Departure. On the A5 to Freiburg and, crossing the city southwards, to the Schauinslandbahn valley station, in Horben. Paid parking: €2 a day.

10:00 · Cable car to the Schauinsland. About 20 minutes by cabin up to 1,284 m. At the top, walk to the viewing tower and back to the terrace. Return, €15; children aged 6 to 14, €10, and there is a reduced family fare.

12:00 · Lunch at Die Bergstation. Right beside the top station. Flammkuchen, pork escalope from Bonndorf or the Baden dish, with sausage salad and fresh cheese. No booking except for groups; on Mondays and Tuesdays it is self-service only.

14:00 · Ravenna Gorge. Ride down on the cable car and drive about 45 minutes to Hinterzarten. The Heimatpfad loop starts at the Kurhaus: 7.25 km and about two and a half hours, going down the Löffeltal and up through the gorge.

15:15 · Cake at the Hofgut Sternen. Halfway round you pass the old inn of the Höllental. The SchwarzwaldStube is open all day and at reception they lend you the key to the chapel of St Oswald, from 1148.

17:30 · Journey back. Finish the loop in Hinterzarten and drive towards Basel, about 80 minutes.

Is it for me?

If you like views without much effort in the morning and a short but entertaining walk in the afternoon, yes. With children who already walk it works well: a cabin, a terrace and a ravine with water and bridges. With a pushchair, no: the gorge has stairs. If what you want is a long route, swap the cable car for the Feldbergsteig.