In the photographer’s eye: Switzerland & Italy 2024

BRIENZ LAKE – SWITZERLAND

After a beautiful walk around the picturesque village of Lauterbrunnen, we started looking for the perfect spot to park our Defender and roll out the roof tent. We decided to choose the shores of Lake Brienz (Brienzersee ‘auf Deutsch’). After a few kilometres on the road, we discovered a vast meadow overlooking the lake: an amazing spot, with no houses on the horizon, no roads, just peace and quiet and the surrounding countryside.

True to its reputation, the Defender effortlessly crossed a wide ditch to reach the meadow, climbing the slope with disconcerting ease, all the way up to the highest point, where the views were simply breathtaking.

Once we had set up camp, we took advantage of a superb sunset to cook. On the menu? A grilled rib-eye steak, roast potatoes and a nice bottle of red wine: the perfect start to our luxury camping adventure.

The next morning, we were gently awoken by birdsong and a gentle breeze. After packing up our camp, we drove to the water for an early morning swim. Refreshing, in 9° C water. The contrast between the coolness of the water and the heat of the sun was invigorating – an unforgettable experience.

©GATAW Studio – ©Simon Henrard

OESCHINENSEE – SWITZERLAND

We were looking forward to exploring the famous Oeschinensee, a beautiful lake in the middle of the mountains, accessible only after a trek of an hour or two. But we could never have dreamed what kind of camping spot we would discover that evening. As usual, we had planned to finish the hike around 5pm, so we would have time to quietly search for a place for the night. After thoroughly exploring the area on Google Maps, we drove deeper into the valley. Soon we left main road to climb a narrow, winding path, while the Defender took us higher and higher.

At one point, we suddenly crossed the gap between two peaks, to discover a breathtaking scenery: in front of our astonished eyes unrolled a Swiss valley of brilliant greenery, dotted with flowers, in beautiful contrast to the surrounding rock massifs. The scene could have figured in a fairytale without problem. There were no houses, just two small alpine chalets, and not a soul in sight. Cows, on the other hand, were plentiful. We continued a narrow path through this sea of green, higher and higher, and our winding ride between the cows brought us to an even steeper path that crossed a river.

The current was strong and the water as much as 40 cm deep, but the Defender crossed the water as if nothing had happened.

We arrived at an immense meadow carpeted with multicoloured flowers, surrounded by majestic mountains as far as the eye could see. No doubt about it, this was the perfect place to set up camp.

A magical night followed, under a starry sky like we had never seen before, surrounded by the absolute tranquillity of the mountains and the gentle sounds of nature to lull us to sleep.

©GATAW Studio – ©Simon Henrard

CINQUE TERRE – NATIONAL PARK – ITALY

After a few days in Switzerland, we headed for Italy. After discovering Portofino and spending a night in a magnificent hotel, we were ready to start over the camping adventure, so we decided to venture into the Cinque Terre National Park. With only four days to go before the season opened, we had the chance to enjoy iconic places like Manarola and Riomaggiore in absolute peace and quiet.

After a delicious dinner in a vineyard overlooking the village of Manarola, we set off to find our spot for the night. Admittedly, camping in Italy is not as easy as it is in Switzerland, but we knew how to go about it. After about thirty minutes of searching, we found the entrance to a promising track. Off we went, taking the Defender into its element, where few vehicles would have been able to follow us. After about 25 minutes on a winding track, passing through lush vegetation and a few rivers, we found a small space on the side to set up the Defender. The view was breathtaking: a vast expanse of forest overlooking the village of Manarola, itself overlooking the sea. Once again, it was quiet, disturbed only by the gentle salty breeze.

We spent three nights here, taking the time to explore the five villages of the Cinque Terre.

If you are passing through, stop off at the charming village of Corniglia. For us, it is the most authentic and peaceful of the five, despite being one of the least well-known. Just above Corniglia you will find the Ittiturismo Sp4488 restaurant. The views are breathtaking, and you can enjoy freshly caught fish, often by the children of the family who run the restaurant. It does not get much more authentic than this.

LAGO DI COMO – ITALY

Nice pic, isn’t it? Believe me, it was not easy to get! Lake Como is beautiful, but finding a camping spot nearby is another story. After more than an hour and a half of searching, we set off along a narrow path. The further we got, the narrower it became. I really thought the Defender would get stuck…. But that would be underestimation of his qualities!

The passage was very tight, with barely 2 cm margin on the left side, where huge rocks almost touched the car, and only 1 cm on the right. At this point, all the Defender’s tools proved their value. I activated ‘Abrupt’ mode, which allowed me to advance at a few kilometres per hour without risk of sudden acceleration. The 360° cameras were more useful than ever, with close-ups on the left, right, front and rear as needed. What a car!

Eventually we got through the narrow passage and crossed a beautiful bridge to a slightly wider road. We immortalised this moment without the slightest scratch on the bodywork. Not bad, eh?

In the photographer’s eye: Switzerland & Italy 2024

JAGUAR LAND ROVER BRUSSELS EAST

JAGUAR LAND ROVER BRUSSELS WEST

JAGUAR LAND ROVER BRUSSEL SOUTH

JAGUAR BRUSSELS

LAND ROVER BRUSSELS

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