Southern Bavaria, a week of walking with Ramblers Holidays.

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Bavaria 2023 Photo Gallery

DAY 1
Monday 11 September

Looking north above Bad Kohlgrub from the top of the cable car (Hörnle-Schwebebahn) which starts from across the road from our hotel.
Looking east towards Hörnlehütte and a herd of cows.
Beyond this biergarten we continued up to another, higher hill called Hinteres Hörnle, which has a religious cross at the summit.
The cows. I always like to compare cows across different holidays, for some reason.
Perhaps I was one in a past life.
DAY 2
Tuesday 12 September

Today I migrated to the Grade 6 walk led by Tom, an ex-soldier. The walk began at the town of Garmish Partenkirchen. Here is located the old Olympic winter stadium from 1972. The highlight of the walk was the visit to Partnachklamm, a narrow gorge with walkway, including underground galleries in the dark.

Afterwards we stopped at a bier garten called Partnachalm for a beer. Both groups actually did the same walk today, but the Grade 6 walkers, including me, just did a faster pace. Not long after the beer stop I pulled a muscle in my left calf, the same muscle I did in on a path minders job about 2 weeks before. I did even more damage to the wound walking back to the hotel, so I decided to have Day 3 as a day off to recover.

This is the stadium used in the Winter Olympics in 1972.
At this point I'm in the narrow gorge, the sound of rushing water is surprisingly loud, as it's not a huge stream.
The view from near the bier-garten where we stopped for refreshment was spectacular, it almost looked like it had been painted by the late Bob Ross.
Another view showing how vivid the green colours of nature seem in this region.
The coach picked us up here in the town of Garmish Partenkirchen.

I recall enjoying coffee and a cake here in a cafe, along with others from our group.
DAY 3
Wednesday 13 September

I had the day off to rest my leg.
I went shopping and then had a swim in the hotel's pool.

In the evening I walked down to the Kurhaus railway halt to catch a train to Obenammergau, where the group was booked in for our evening meal.
The train in the picture is similar to the one I was on - much nicer than your typical English multiple units.
Day 4
Thursday 14 September

Today we had a coach trip to the magnificent Neuschwanstein Castle, southeast of Bad Kohlbrub. Built by King Ludwig II at great expense.

According to Wikipedia, Ludwig chose to pay for the palace out of his personal fortune and by extensive borrowing rather than Bavarian public funds. Construction began in 1869 but was never completed. The castle was intended to serve as a private residence for the king but he died in 1886 in mysterious circumstances.

This is a view from a footbridge which overlooks the castle in the hills above (on a rainy and misty morning).
Our guided tour of the castle ended with a chance to look out of one of the viewing windows in this shot of the rear of the castle.
Crikey - I can't imagine this structure being built nowadays, without the financial means of Elon Musk, or Vladimir Putin.
A nice contrast between the red brick facade and the granite towers.
The footbridge seen from the end viewing area.
After the castle tour we did a walk of about 5 miles around the lake (Alpsee) west of the castle. At this point near the castle is a view of this lake and the smaller yellow castle (Hohenschwangau) in the centre of the picture.
A view of the cliffs rising over Alpsee lake.
About halfway round the lake, looking across, you can see Neuschwanstein Castle in the distance.
Day 5
Friday 15 September

I think the walk started at Unterammergau and then onwards down the valley to Ettal.

On the edge of this village is a completely functional monastery (Benediktinerabtei Ettal), whose main purpose now seems to be to produce beer in its own brewery.
There was a fantastic extensive bell chiming session at 3pm.

I had a nice coffee and lemon cake at the cafe there.
We met the Grade 6 group and we all got the bus back to the hotel.

More green scenery looking across the valley.
Almost like the fabric from a snooker table.
A kind of fungus growing in the woodland.
The town of Oberammergau is dominated by this limestone pinnacle (called Kofel Spitze) with a cross stuck on top.
Blue skies and some clouds as we head south towards Ettal.
Approaching the monastery from above and around.
Inside the churchy bit.
The elaborately decorated dome of the ceiling.
Day 6
Saturday 16 September

On the final day we walked directly from the hotel, around Bad Saulgrub and onward to Bad Bayersoien.

Here there is a lake with either beavers or otters. There is a mud pool where you can stomp around up to your knees or take selfies. We had a good stay on the south side of the lake before returning on foot to the hotel.
This was probably the best day in terms of the scenery on show.

The pond where we stopped was a lovely little place to sit and watch the small carp swimming about and frogs appearing from under the lilies. At the end of the week, as a holiday this got 8 out of ten from me!
About a mile northwest of Saulgrub we arrived at this lovely little pond, as described above.
Looking up to the tall pines near the pond.
Ann and Caroline, descending to the small lake at Bad Bayernsoien.
Another cow.
Moortretbecken translates as 'mud treading pool'.
Only Gillian, our leader took the opportunity to have a paddle in the muddy tank up to her knees.
The aforementioned muddy tank.
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