Walking in Southern Bavaria

Arrive at your hotel in Oberammergau.

A perfect introduction to your walking week starts with a short (15 mins) ride on the little red train to Bad Kohlgrub. From here, you walk through the rolling Ammer Valley's string of sleepy farming villages. Unterammergau, in particular, has a splendid Rococo church. Then walk across to the Pulvermoos, a wildlife sanctuary and habitat for 60 bird species including Corncrake, Dipper, Whinchat and Snipe.   3 walking options: distance 8km/5.0mi or 12km/7.5mi or 18km/11.2mi

Start with a cable car ride to the top of the Laber (1685m) for panoramic views of Germany's highest mountain - the Zugspitze (2962m) - and the Austrian Alps beyond. You then wind your way down through cool pine forests to the village of Ettal. After lunch, visit the amazing 14th century former Benedictine monastery, an outstanding example of Bavarian Baroque architecture. Return on an easy path along the pretty valley, passing the Barenhohle cave where there's a figure of the resurrected Christ.   2 walking options: distance 12km/7.5mi or 14km/8.7mi

Staffelsee is one of the larger of the many picturesque blue lakes dotted around this part of Bavaria. This beautiful stretch of water offers easy walking along the shoreline with plenty of swimming opportunities. Stop off in the attractive riverside village of Uffing (the boat landing station is the place for lunch and offers magnificent views of the lake backed by mountains). In the afternoon, either relax in the sun on the panorama deck of the little lake cruiser (payable locally), passing hidden coves and the lake's seven islands (one even has its own tiny chapel), or return on foot along the quiet side of the lake.   3 walking options: distance 12km/7.5mi or 14km/8.7mi or 22km/13.7mi

A day off from walking today. Maybe take the local bus to Mad King Ludwig's fairytale castle of Neuschwanstein with its stunning setting on a rocky outcrop; or take the funicular to the top of Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze, to discover a breathtaking 360 degree panorama of endless peaks spanning Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Germany. If you prefer to stay closer to home, spend the afternoon by the WellenBerg outdoor pool (swimming, sauna, jacuzzi).

The Kolben chairlift whisks you up to 1270m, from where there's a choice of routes up to the spectacular Sonnenberg ridge. Your route down passes a succession of crashing waterfalls and the reconstructed C19 whetstone mill at Schleifmuhle, followed by a pretty path through the meadows.   2 walking options: distance 11km/6.8mi or 15km/9.3mi

An unmissable visit to Schloss Linderhof, the gloriously over-the-top Rococo palace built by Mad King Ludwig in 1878, inspired by Louis XIV's chateau in Versailles. There are gorgeous French and Italianate terraced gardens and a golden fountain which erupts once every hour with a 30m plume of water. Return to the hotel along a tranquil path which winds back down the Linder Valley, through the village of Graswang with its beautifully preserved old farmhouses and pretty 17th century frescoed church. 2 walking options: distance 6km/3.7mi or 13km/8.1mi