Full confession, the next two stops aren’t technically directly on our route to Istanbul, but I’ve hankered after exploring the ‘Romantic Road’ since my lovely German pen-friend Martina gave me a photo book ‘Romantik in Deutschland’ at the age of thirteen. It was full of magical images of gingerbread houses and fairytale castles, literally and metaphorically miles away from South Wales! So, forty-ahem-something years later I couldn’t resist a slight detour.

It lived up to its name. The Romantische Strasse wound its way through rolling hills and valleys, many iced with snow. We stopped in a fantastic campsite nestling in the valley below the town of Rothenburg. Eagle eyed readers will have spotted the flaw in that, and indeed it was a challenging yomp up the hill in the snow, but worth every step.

The town is like a film set- and there’s a reason for that- it’s been the location or inspiration for films like Pinocchio, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. When going around one corner I fully expected the child catcher to snatch me!

Quick campsite comment:

We stayed at Tauberromantik campsite in Detwang, a mile below Rothenburg.

The good bits: Fabulous campsite- the best yet. Beautiful location, great shop, top laundry area and AMAZING showers and vanity units with hairdryers. Absolute luxury!

The bad bits: It is a steep twenty-minute walk up to Rothenburg, but worth it when you get there.