ViaBerna, Stage 3/20

The first thing to do is conquer the seemingly insurmountable Combe Grède gorge. Ladders and well-secured paths take you to the Jura heights of the Chasseral with a view of the Three-Lakes countryside and the Alpine chain. A pleasant descent through pastures and forests leads down to the tranquil Jura village of Nods.

From St-Imier railway station, the hike initially leads through the village. The long ascent soon begins: the trail enters the forest and steadily gains height on the wooded slopes. Over the eleven kilometres, around 880 metres of ascent must be tackled.

After just over two kilometres, the trail narrows and becomes a mountain hiking trail marked in white, red and white. The gradient now becomes steeper, but the route remains on marked trails throughout. Higher up, the forest increasingly gives way to open meadows and pastures. Here, the characteristic alternation of this hike between dense woodland and open Jura heights becomes apparent.

About two-thirds of the way along, the route reaches its highest point at around 1,560 metres. From there, the trail heads downhill and continues along broader hiking paths to Nods. After around four hours, the hike ends near the Nods, bas du village bus stop.