Lake Zug is the ninth largest lake in Switzerland, 413m above sea level, and borders the cantons of Zug, Schwyz, and Lucerne.

I’ve already swooned over the fantastic mountain scenery at its backdrop in two running posts but the lakeshores are equally gorgeous and biking around the lake gives you plenty of time to enjoy the countryside and stop at one of the Badis (lidos/swimming areas at the lake) that dot the shoreline.

Starting from Zug, we’ve cycled the circuit both clockwise and anti-clockwise but prefer the former because riding on the right-hand side of the road (which you should in Switzerland) going clockwise will get you a road width closer to the lake.

Also there are more bicycle-friendly footpaths in that direction, and I like the views of Rigi, a mountain rising steeply to 1798m from the south-western lakeshore, better approaching from the northeast.

Between Zug and Arth you’ll be cycling on a footpath alongside the road or even on the road itself but drivers are generally considerate when overtaking bikers and the lake views compensate for the traffic, as do the forested slopes of Zugerberg that rise gently and leave plenty of room for green meadows, mooing cows, Zug’s famous cherry orchards, and farms, before they steepen as you’re approaching Walchwil.

Thanks to its sheltered location on the hillside this municipality is also known as the Riviera of Zug and judging by the impossibly crowded hill slopes, it is a very sought after place to live.

I cannot relate to the Swiss love for featureless flat-roofed condos that spring up like mushrooms everywhere but there are plenty of gorgeous traditional wooden chalets lining the lake road as well, albeit many in need of renovation.

Whereas the road closely skirts the eastern lakeshore, once you’ve passed through the outskirts of Arth, the southernmost tip of the lake, a quiet road (Myrthenstrasse) forks off to the right. It’s unlikely you’ll be bothered much by car traffic from here on for the rest of the ride as most of the remaining route will be covered on a shared pedestrian and bicycle path.

Cycling back towards Zug on the western lakeshore, via Immensee, Risch, and Buonas, you’ll pass through scenery typical for Central Switzerland – undulating lush farmland, cows, fruit trees, and wooden chalets. This is without doubt my favourite section of the route.

In Cham, the lake’s northernmost tip some 5km northwest of Zug, you might want to rest in Villette Park and the Badi (lido), have a picnic, or dip in the lake that you’ve almost circuited by then.

Once you’re back in Zug you might want to enjoy the lake and landscape from a different perspective in which case you can rent a pedalo (pedal boat) in town at the Landgemeindeplatz.

Alternatively Zugersee Schifffahrt operates several boats on the lake and runs regular service to the largest settlements on the lake as well as themed cruises. Either mode of nautical transport will, on a clear summer’s evening, treat you to a marvellous sunset on the eastern lakeshore.