When to climb.

The climate in Southern Germany is much like Britain although it depends to be a bit more extreme over here. If it's hot it's really hot and if it rains it does it with style. Mid May to mid October normally offer the best conditions and between June and September temperatures can reach into the low 30's. The winter here is especially harsh due to the freezing temperatures and heavy snow and most of the crags will seep until May time. If you're really keen to climb here maybe you could leave some questions on the www.sportclimbing.de forum, where you're sure of an English reply. A five day weather forecast for Nurnberg can be obtained from the World weather page at www.bbc.com/.

How to get there.

From Frankfurt take the A3 autobahn (direction Wurzburg then Nurnburg) for about 175miles. Leave the autobahn at Hochstadt ost and follow the 470 into and through the town of Forcheim towards Pretzfeld. Leave the 470 to enter Pretzfeld and stay on this road for approx. 7 miles passing through the villages of Wannbach, Unter-Zaunsbach & Eglofstein. About a mile after Eglofstein take a left towards Untertrubach. After another mile take a right at the crossroads into the village of Untertrubach. Camping Eichler lies shortly on the left after a bridge and a bus stop.

Getting around.

As I said earlier a car or friendly climber who will ferry you round in this area is essential. Your first purchase should be the Bernhard Thum "Topofuhrer" guide presently in it's 6th edition (60DM) and a Wanderkarte map of the "naturpark frankische schweiz". Without either of these you will get lost! With these in hand you should be able to find most of the crags even if your German is non-existent. Just remember links is left and rechts is right!