WTD - Advice/Maps Germany - Kinzigtal (Black Forest)

[Dave_C]

We are spending a week in Kinzigtal Campsite next to Steinach, on the edge of the Black Forest in Germany, in July. I have an old OSM map I can pop on my GPS but I wondered if anyone would recommend a Tourer, Gravel/cyclocross or MTB for this region? I'm hoping I can get out for a couple of hours on a morning, early before the family are up and wanting to go out for the day.

I think it looks hilly and am wondering if anyone on here has good info on what type of bike I should take (I can only take one I'm afraid) 

If its a mountain bike mekka then I'll take that but if the roads are nice and quiet and hilly I'll take my cyclocross with 2 sets of tyres, gravel and road.

Cheers, Dave C

[Karla]

Auntie Helen may be a good person to ask - she lives much further north in Germany but she does seem to get around a fair bit.  I think she's off touring atm though.

[Dave_C]

A very nice chap who visited the same caravan park in 2014 has sent me some great info:

Tobogganing,
Local towns have lovely centres/shops etc..
Campsite has nice restaurant
Cycling nearby is excellent for families, and great if I want to road bike into the hills.
There is a Guest Ticket for public transport to bigger towns.
Great local swimming pool with proper diving boards. (our 8 & 10 yr olds will love that! - we won't!!)
Glass Blowing nearby.

I'm keen to find out about money. Ours sits in the bank and we tend to use debit cards exclusively, but I recall seeing a program a year ago about how Germans frown on card payments as it is seen as credit, so we may have to withdraw cash before hand?

Any Good MTBing nearby?

[Auntie Helen]

I'm touring at the mo with limited wifi but can answer when I return.

Don't know about maps but you will need cash although credit cards work in most hotels and Aldi.

The pound is very weak at the moment so it will seem expensive!

[Dave_C]

Thanks Auntie Helen. We are heading down there Friday for 6 days.

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

[Dave_C]

We're back and can happily report that it is a wonderful place for holiday makers whether cyclists or not.

We stayed at Steinach in Kinzigtal in the heart of the Black Forest. We booked with Canvas Holidays who also were able to get us a deal on the ferry crossings via Hull to Rotterdam. The tents were large and very well equipped, but we stayed in a large 4 sleeper static caravan, which had lots of room. The only downside was cupboard space. In the Black Forest all the villages and towns have municipal pool complexes, and as tourists we had paid Tourist Tax (included in the price) which gave us access to all the Freibad (outdoor pools in the Black Forest region). The food was excellent if you like German pork products and the scenery was outstanding. We visited a local Bear rescue centre and also the local RodelBahn, which is amazing!! and great value!

I did not know that Germany is as well appointed for cycle paths as The Netherlands, and we made good use of the cycle paths between local towns to visit then. The costs were on a par with the UK, so not overly expensive, like Denmark or Switzerland, I have heard about.

Dave C

[trekker12]

Interesting, a place worth exploring. Thanks for the report