Take a walk with me through the haunting Black Forest to Burgbach Waterfall in Germany after 2 days of heavy rain, which left a thick, eerie mist hanging in the trees as mushrooms grow around the floor beneath.
For two days, we had been wanting to go for a longer walk deeper into the forest, but for 2 whole days, it did nothing but rain. A few minutes' break here and there, and then the onslaught would start again.
At least during that time, we could plan where we would be going for a walk. Using AllTrails and Komoot we found a circular walk titled the "Klösterle Schleife" taking in the Burgbach Waterfall, which is around a 2.5-hour walk. Perfect for us to walk over lunch before the scheduled afternoon rain started again.
We accidentally started the walk a bit after the original start, so we had to complete the first part at the end. It worked out for the best, as there was a Freezer of Ice Cream available with an honesty box at this car park, and there wasn't one at the official start! We treated ourselves to the Blueberry one – It was very yummy!
I was excited to see what mushrooms were sprouting and had hoped the rain had helped a few more show up. I wasn't disappointed. We saw a good variety of Fungi on the walk, ranging from bracket fungi to the well-known Amanita Muscaria. Just at the end of the trail, we found some Shaggy Inkcaps too and had them for Dinner!
After we set off on the walk, we realised that where we started was actually the steepest incline of the route. As tough as it was, it meant we walked into the most enchanting woodlands straight away.
A sea of green ranging from deep, dark and moody to almost bright, in your face green with the first burnt orange and brown leaves of autumn underfoot.
There’s something hard to describe about the Black Forest or Schwarzwald in German; I'm not sure if it has something to do with the time of year or the fact that it's so old. It has a presence. Somewhat eerie and haunting in the mist, but more of a feeling that it knows more than you. It's ancient, and it feels it.
The trees are huge and well established, not like the pine and fir forests back in Wales; they are modern, and it's the mixed broadleaf woodlands that stand out in the UK. But these Firs and Pines stand strong and tall here where they belong.
I had read online that the Brothers Grimm stories are associated with this area, and I can understand why.
It’s hard to comprehend how long the black forest goes on for, as we have driven up to a couple of hours each day, and we are still driving through it now.
The roads are amazing as well, so many hairpins and turns to enjoy as you meander your way, and this mysterious, beautiful landscape develops in front of your eyes. One minute you're in a deep, thick forest, and then you suddenly descend into a little village before heading back deep into the forest again.
You can tell that the people who live here still have a real connection to the land and the trees around them. There’s a respect, an understanding and a symbiotic relationship between them.
A relationship I wish more people had with the land around them.
If you ever have the opportunity to visit the black forest, I highly recommend it. The walks, the community surrounding, and the places to stay in a camper van, whether that be a free aire, a forest track, or a campsite, the whole area is traditional, beautiful and inviting.
[//]:# ([//]:# (!worldmappin 48.41079 lat 8.33609 long Misty Black Forest Circular Walk - Waterfalls and Fungi 🌲🍄 d3scr))