Ulm / Oberstdorf section 3

Contrast right from the start. A route familiar from many fields leads me behind the village of Oberbinnwang into a forest area along the Iller. There are still two junctions here leading to a viewpoint and a local pub on the heights. I continue on the forest path, where beautiful natural areas with many swans can be seen. The path is quite soft and deceptively rooted due to recent rainy days. Wooden planks are present in parts to walk more safely.

After 20 minutes, you reach a large clearing with a great panoramic view of the Iller nature reserve.

Next, it continues on asphalt along the country road, where after not quite 20 minutes I come upon a hiking trail that leads steeply upwards through a forested area.

After that, the world opens up brighter again for me, where I can walk over many freshly mowed grass/hay fields towards Meierhof.

Since I started out this early morning without a proper breakfast, I hope, guided by the signs, to come to a farm where one could drink fresh, delicious coffee.

-… unfortunately, a purely working farm, so shortly afterward at a junction towards the Iller suspension bridge, I throw my luggage into the greenery and prepare for a longer break with water and pastries.

One more forest ahead and in the distance the guardian of the Allgäu, the Grünten. Goosebumps under my damp sweaty clothes, visually I am coming closer to a beloved, alternative home region. So it is easy to jot down some notes in the diary while resting in the grass in the wind and sun.

Not yet knowing how I will decide in the afternoon, I feel an inner satisfaction with the entire hiking idea and mull over during the next steps on a surprise for myself, how I could still reward myself.

After the short forest section, I quickly reach the suspension bridge. Already a bit tired and hungry, at that moment it does not matter to me whether it is a wooden bridge over deep ravines or, as in this case, a metal bridge built low over the river.

On the other shore, hiking signs show about 30 minutes to Altusried. During the ascent through a beautiful area along many farms, I decide to take a general break for 1-2 days. 15 kilometers as the crow flies to Kempten and still 3 days until the meeting in Oberstdorf make it easy for me to decide to ask the tourist information office for an affordable accommodation.

And I actually found it with kind hosts, where I was allowed to stay for 2 nights and could explore the Altusried area the next day without heavy luggage.