Wild Bee Orchids
I have been going through old posts, removing the odd broken link, optimising picture sizes from way back when my last template wouldn’t let me feature large photographs, and because of this generally reminiscing about our early days here. A Walk in the Woods reminded me of one of our first proper walks in the Bavarian countryside deep in the heart of our first winter, and how different it all felt being surrounded by the foothills of the Alps (complete with alpine cows and Heidi Houses!) compared to the pancake flatness of Denmark that we had become so used to (I still miss the sea though!)…
To some extent, the amazing outdoors is something we take for granted here now almost 5 years on, and a little like the beach in Denmark, I am sure it will be something we miss one day…
Thanks to the dreaded lurgy that hung around most of last week, we weren’t able to get up to all that much whilst my Mum was here, but by the weekend people were well on the mend, and the weather was glorious, so we cobbled together a tiny picnic and headed to the foothills again, this time just outside of Lenggries for a much longer walk than our winter “Walk in the Woods”, in the lush Spring meadows.
This particular walk has to be one of my favourites, at just under 8km in total it’s long enough to feel like you have done a little exercise, but not long enough to feature any “my legs are tired” or “are we nearly there yet?” complaints from the Small People. It also doesn’t involve any strenuous hill climbing (which is probably why it’s my favourite after my uphill Eagle’s Nest experience!)…
We came here last April when the baby was still bump, imagining him as we walked, wondering whether he would be “pink or blue”, and debating the wild and wonderful name suggestions his siblings came up with (be grateful you weren’t called Ludwig after the Bavarian King little one won’t you?), so it was lovely and rather surreal to be able to bring him on this very walk now at the same time of year – retracing our steps as five instead of four (six including Granny, but you know what I mean!)…
This hike starts next to a boarding school in Mühlbach (that could be straight out of an Enid Blyton novel) before cutting through the tiny alpine farming hamlet of Lasseln (look out for the honey house – that’s what you call a REAL beehive!) and then turning right at the first fork in the road. Then it’s up past two small farms and out onto the winding path through buttercup meadows.
You would be forgiven for thinking there was something wrong with the grass here in parts, like Mother Nature had gone a bit filter crazy, but she hasn’t – this is the colour of new grass when mountain snow has departed all but the highest peaks.
Strange brezen eating folk…
Too much fresh air for some – and yes he is asleep with his eyes open (ignore my double chin!!)!…
From here it’s downhill alongside the river. Whilst one of our group had fallen asleep by this point, we ambled on, separating mildly fighting children and confiscating that bloody stick! A few distraction techniques came in handy including bridge building over small crystal clear streams, wild-flower spotting, pointing out eagles, and in the absence of sticks for some of our party – searching for elusive snakes (there are apparently 6 kinds here, two of them poisonous. I have yet to see one of them!)…
The wobble your sibling into the water bridge…
Before too long we turned right again following the sign for Holz (if you haven’t guessed this walk is one big loop!) through another smaller section of forest and out into yet more buttercup meadows when, before we realised it, a solitary house had turned into a hamlet and we found ourselves back in Mühlbach again – and into the welcoming arms of the local Gasthaus, the embrace of an ice-cold local bier, and a big plate of whatever we felt like as we deserved it.
Homeward stretch
If you plan to visit Bavaria at any point and fancy a spot of alpine hiking yourselves, you could do worse than order a copy of Walking in the Bavarian Alps (by Grant Bourne and Sabine Korner Bourne). I initially bought it after getting lost a little too frequently, and probably being pushed one extremely hilly walk too far. It comes with us on every alpine walk now! You can find this particular walk on page 175!
Charly Dove says
Oh my goodness I love this post Emma, what glorious sights. I love the blue sky and the green, just superb. I hope you’re all back to full health again now. I’d love to have the second photo down for the BritMums round-up if you’re able to send it over by EOP Tuesday to charlydove@gmail.com?
Emma says
Thank you Charly. Have mailed you x
Cass@frugalfamily says
THat does look like a lovely walk – i would have been in photography heaven x
Emma says
Thank you Cass! (:
Eline @ Emmy + LIEN says
Oh so beautiful! I’ve only ever been to Munich, and very briefly at that, but your photos remind me of the walks we took with my cousin in Switzerland. A little flatter, perhaps, but definitely not as pancakey as Denmark/Southern Sweden! Hope you are all enjoying spring x
Emma says
Thanks so much Eline! Switzerland is stunning, I haven’t spent nearly enough time there yet! We are, hope you are too x
Otilia says
Stunning photographs and how lucky are your children to be able to grow upon such a beautiful country!
Emma says
Thank you Otilia. Likewise, your recent photos look gorgeous. Hope to visit Romania one day x
Kara Guppy says
Oh my, that is a stunning view. No wonder bubba slept with all that fresh mountain air
Emma says
Thanks Kara! (:
The Mummy Diary says
Wow, just wow that is an unbelievably beautiful view and like Nadine not somewhere i’d of thought of coming but I think I will have to put this on my list of places to visit as it is stunning. Some beautiful pictures and I love that little sleepy baby face, fresh air is good for making you sleepy.
Emma says
It really is beautiful, and paradise for kids! Thanks very much! (:
Erica Price says
It looks like a beautiful walk. So far my exploration of Germany hasn’t extended to Bavaria – I must change that soon.
Emma says
I think you would love it Erica! :)
Trish @ Mum's Gone To says
All that gorgeous green grass and blue sky – plus a bonny baby to boot – what’s not to love about this post.
I do think your advice about buying a book of walks is a good one. We really should do that for Norfolk.
Emma says
Thanks Trish! Yes, it was nice to have something to follow than the “I am sure it’s this ways” from Mr R! :D x
Jen says
It looks so beautiful and you are right, just like I remember from Heidi. It is somewhere the husbeast has always fancied.
Emma says
I think you would love it Jen. Thank you! :)
nessjibberjabberuk says
I can just sense how clean and fresh the air must be up there. Absolutely stunning scenery.
Emma says
You really do notice how clean it is! Thanks Ness! :)
Phoebe @ Lou Messugo says
It looks like such a peaceful walk and I’m all for flat! Around where I live everything is so hilly that even short walks can be tough….unless along the coast of course (we really do have the best of both worlds…mountains and sea.) Can’t believe you call that a double chin, I had to look twice to see anything and NO that is NOT a double chin!!!
Emma says
Ha. Thank you Phoebe, you are too kind! You are very lucky having sea AND mountains! :) x
JuggleMum, Nadine Hill says
It looks so tranquil there – I’ll be honest, Bavaria has never been on my radar as a holiday destination but after reading your post, I would love to explore and see that beautiful scenery!
Emma says
I think that’s the same for a lot of people, but (apart from the sea) it really has so much to offer, and it’s pretty stunning! Thanks Nadine! (:
Midlife Singlemum says
8km and not too steep would be my ideal [mini] hike. It looks beautiful as it always does. I learned from this post that the word pretzel muct come from brezen. Have a great weekend. xx
Emma says
Just right when I am the nominated baby in the sling carrier! We usually do much longer but this one is perfect for a last minute day out! And yes it does indeed, although I think they are called Pretzels everywhere else in Germany, just down here in Bavaria it’s Brezn… Have a great weekend too! :) xx