Best hikes in Berner Oberland ?

So you have the Rick Steves Switzerland guidebook? He outlines the North Face hike, Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg, Grutschalp to Mürren, First to Bachalpsee, and more. These are all far less frightening than a via ferrata.

The scenery on the North Face Trail is spectacular. Would do it again in a heartbeat. And nowhere are you on the edge of a ledge. A good bit of it is wide walking paths. If you hike seven or eight hours a day you will not find it taxing at all and it will not require an up at the crack of dawn start. Check it out in the RS guide book or google it and see what you think.

In addition to looking at Rick Steves Switzerland, ask at your hotel before setting out on any hike - they can advise on things like weather conditions, degree of difficulty, etc.

The hikes suggested above are nice easy walks, but it appears you are looking for something more challenging. I can suggest a few.

1). The Panoramaweg, from Schynige Platte to First. This is a lovely ramble along the ridge top that separates the Grindelwald Valley from Brienzersee. You will have views in both directions, at one time or another. Take the train to Wilderswil and transfer there to the cogwheel train up to Schynige Platte. On the way tomFirst you will pass by or near two hits for lunch stops, and younwill walk along the beautiful Bachalpsee. At First you ride a gondola down to Grindelwald and train back from there.

2). The Eiger North Face trail which traverses below the face of the Eiger. It connects the Eigergletscher station (above Kleine Scheidegg) with another station (Ebenalp?) below on the Grindelwald. You can take it one-way,neither uphill or down.

3) Rotstöckhütte from Mürren---this is a hike below the Schilthorn into the Sefeinental. Lots of. Ows and meadows with that "Soundnof Music" feeling.

4). One we haven't done yet is to Oberhornsee, a lake in the upper valley beyond Stechelberg. You can hike downhill from Grindelwald or uphill from Stechelberg. Several mountain inns provide opportunity for lunch.

I loved Maanlichen to Kleine Scheidegg-- but the part I liked the best about that one was the big hill to the left just before you start the actual trek to KS. I was there on a fairly clear day with few people, and the views were absolutely incredible.

I also second all the suggestions for the North Face trail. It was my favorite hike among the several I did in Switzerland-- beautiful meadows, incredible Jungfrau views the whole way, and the sound of cowbells... it struck me as the ultimate in Swiss picturesque-ness.