By Club Spokesman Jordan Sibley in Interlaken

Day Seven

After the toil of Tuesday night's match against FC Thun, the coaching staff decided that a day off from training would allow the players some time to rest and recover. However, just because the squad wasn't being put through their paces on the training ground, it doesn't mean that the agenda of improving the players fitness was abandoned.

Executive Chairman Nicola Cortese, who had joined up with the squad earlier in the week, kindly stepped forward to pay for a trip up one of Interlaken's mountains to view the "Alpengarten Schynige Platte", which provided the perfect opportunity for some team bonding, and the chance to forget about the previous night's result.

The Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau mountains

After an early start and a short bus ride to the bottom of the mountain, the travelling party boarded a train, which over the course of the next hour slowly travelled up the mountain side, allowing fantastic panoramic views over Interlaken and the surrounding countryside.

Dean Wilkins admires the views from the train.

When the train journey reached its end, everyone jumped out and proceeded to follow Cortese and Wally Downes as they led the way on a trek up to the top of the mountain. The hike itself took longer than planned as everyone felt the urge to regularly stop and take photos of the fantastic views offered by the high vantage point.

Jose Fonte and Alan Pardew make their way up the mountain

After just under an hour of hiking, the squad eventually reached the summit with Radhi Jaidi bringing up the rear. At an elevation of 1,967 meters the vantage point at the top of the mountain allowed breath-taking views over the town of Interlaken in one direction, and of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau mountains in another.

The view of Interlaken from the top of the Alpengarten Schynige Platte

The squad took half an hour to catch their breath and pose for photographs, and some players even phoned home to brag about the wonderful weather and views they had, whilst the UK was witnessing another typical rainy day.

Rickie Lambert gives the view the thumbs up

With lunchtime fast approaching, it was soon time to make a move back down the mountain. With Cortese and Downes again leading the way, the team gradually made their way along the narrow mountain paths and into the cliffside restaurant without managing to lose anyone.

The squad makes their way back down along some narrow paths

Before long it was time to return back down the mountain and into Interlaken, where the squad were given the rest of the afternoon to catch up on some sleep in their rooms ahead of what is sure to be another day of intense training on Thursday as the team step up their preparations for Saturday's match against FC Sochaux.

Some of the squad try and blend in with the locals

Check back this time tomorrow to find out what the squad got up to on day eight of their overseas training camp. In the meantime, you can catch up on all the latest as it happens via the Club's official Twitter page - www.twitter.com/officialsaints

As ever, Saints Player will be bringing you exclusive footage from behind the scenes in Interlaken, including footage of all of today's events. If you aren't already a subscriber to the Club's TV service, there has never been a better time to be part of the action.