Plateau de Diesse

Biel to Neuchâtel trains stop at La Neuveville, five minutes' walk from the lake. From Ligerz, a funicular climbs through the vineyards to Prêles, a far more entertaining way onto the plateau than the road. Postbuses then link La Neuveville to Diesse, Lamboing, Prêles and Nods. By car, the A5 runs along the lake, exit La Neuveville.

Good to know: the Chasseral road from Nods carries a toll and closes in winter. In summer a seasonal bus line climbs to the summit and spares you the scramble for a parking space.

The Saint-Joux beach in La Neuveville has a gentle grassy entry with no pebbles, which makes all the difference before age three, and the harbour next door is good for boat-watching between swims. The Maurice Moeckli playground is shaded and its equipment works as well at two as at eight. Up on the plateau, the farm tracks between Diesse and Lamboing are flat and easy with a pushchair.

The pattern that works splits into two half-days. Take the morning boat from La Neuveville to the île Saint-Pierre, picnic there, come back in the early afternoon and finish with a swim at Saint-Joux. For a day up high, drive to Nods and continue to the Chasseral at 1607 m, on foot or by car, with a view running from Mont Blanc to the Säntis. With young children, pick one or the other rather than trying to chain both: the drop between lake and ridge is well over a thousand metres, and the day runs out faster than expected.