Stroud Rambling Club

A group flew to Stuttgart, where they were met by members of the German club and greeted with a champagne reception at their accommodation at the Listhof Environmental Studies Hostel.

This hostel in itself was worthy of a visit as its aim of working in harmony with the environment was very interestingly explained and displayed.

Our main aim however was to enjoy the company of our German hosts and to explore the beautiful area of the Swabian Alb.

There was a walk every day, sometimes with two groups following trails of different lengths.

As well as appreciating the lovely upland meadows, woods, waterfalls and extensive views of this limestone plateau, we visited several places of historical interest: three castles including those of Lichtenstein and Hohenzollern, and two churches, one with a mediaeval altarpiece and one with a wonderfully harmonious baroque interior.

We entered three caves, one with stalactites and stalagmites, one in which early people had lived and where flutes made from a swan's wing bone had been found, and one which could only be visited by boat.

We swam in the thermal baths at Urach.

We were treated to visits to Blaubeuren with its blue pool and legendary water nymph and to the old town at Reutlingen, which boasts the narrowest street in the World.

Every evening we ate with our hosts in a charming restaurant serving local specialities.

The visit ended with coffee and home made cake, an exchange of gifts and speeches of thanks on both sides.

Our German hosts were invited to make a return visit to Stroud in 2015, an invitation which they enthusiastically accepted.

This twinning is now in its sixteenth year with each group having already made three or four visits.

When, in farewell, Bert (past chairman of the Reutlingen DAV) struck up the traditional tune ÔWenn ich wieder, wieder komm' on his harmonica and everyone sang along as best they could, dry eyes were in short supply.