Which are the best Swiss cable cars that are open in the summer? We are planning a walking break and would like to experience the thrill of a very high cable car. - Pauline McBride, Dundee

Sunday Times travel expert Richard Green writes: It's one of the lesser-known cable cars, but eastern Switzerland's Mt Säntis is a cracker. The summit station is at 8,100 feet and has fabulous views over Lake Constance, and on a clear day ­ promise I'll only say that once ­ you can see into six countries.

There is a restaurant at the top serving traditional Swiss food, and on full moon nights, there is a special evening ascent with meal and music at the top, for £46pp. An ordinary return is £24pp; the ride starts from Schwagalp, and the nearest town is Appenzell. For more information, see www.saentisbahn.ch.

The most famous, thanks to the high altitude scrap between Bond and Blofeld in the 1969 film, On her Majesty's Secret Service, is the Schilthorn. There are spectacular 360-degree views, most impressively across the wall of high peaks to the south. See the Jungfrau, Eiger, and distant Mont Blanc.

The Piz Gloria restaurant is still revolving, despite apparently being blown to bits in the film ­ and as well as a small Bond exhibition, you can also have Spaghetti James Bond for £12. The set Indian menu is good value at £15. A return is £53pp; the series of connected cable car rides start in Stechelberg, about 12 miles south of Interlaken, see www.schilthorn.ch.

The Titlis Rotair gondola rotates as it climbs to its 9,900 feet summit. There is a good restaurant at summit station and as well as the magnificent views, there is a year round Glacier Park, where you can ride the Ice Flyer (a modern six-seater chair lift) a couple of miles over the glacier (£7 extra). Or there is tobogganing, with a moving walkway to transport you back up the run. A return is £47.50pp; the cars start from Engelberg, about 20 miles south of Luzern), see www.titlis.ch.

Or you can test your nerve on the highest cable car ride in Europe, the Klein Matterhorn. The upper station just 200 feet below the mountain¹s 12,740 feet summit, from where a small tunnel and escalator built inside the rock, leads to the highest sightseeing platform in Europe.

You can see 38 four-thousand-metre peaks from the here, and there is a Glacier Palace exhibition sculpted from inside the ice. Other facilities at the top are outdated, but they are being remodelled by the addition of a controversial glass pyramid. It will include a hotel and restaurant, and create a new 4,000-meter summit (13,123 feet). A return from Zermatt is £26pp; see www.zermatt.ch.

For further information, call Switzerland Tourism on 00800 100 200 30, or visit www.myswitzerland.com

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