Driving to the Schwarzwald in December was always going to carry a risk of heavy snow. But we had our snow tyres and our optimism, and the prospect of a pampering German spa felt just what the doctor ordered after a long, hard term for me.
Dollenberg looked picture-pretty in light snow as we arrived. Inside we found reliable Black Forest chalet-style kitsch, but in the most comfortable, indulgent way of a good spa resort -
After 5-6 hours in the car we were keen for a good walk up the hill to the local village -
- but for the rest we kept warm inside, indulging in the sauna and heated pool with snowy forest views -
There was a classic Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte to celebrate my birthday.
The morning we left it had snowed heavily overnight, and we woke to these wonderful views -
Less wonderful was the job of getting out, with a long, steep, snow-covered road to negotiate before reaching the national roads -
Schwarzwald, Germany
December 2017