2019-09-01_Lonely_Planet_Traveller

THEBLACKFOREST,

GERMANY

Thewholeof theBlackForesthas

beendesignateda naturepark

• thelargestin Germany.It’sone
  ofEurope’sloveliestforests
  (picturedright),spreadinga
  thickconiferousblanketoverthe
  valleysof southwestGermany.
  It’sspecialallyear-round,but
  particularlyongoldensummer
  evenings(Juneto August),
  crispautumndays(especially
  September),andwhenfrosted
  withsnowduringthewinter.
  FTheclosestairport,and
  gateway,is in Baden-Baden;
  you’llneeda carto explore
  properly.Findaccommodation
  at schwarzwald-tourismus.info.

ARASHIYAMABAMBOO

GROVE,JAPAN

Whiletheoptionsforshinrin-

yoku(forest-bathing)are

boundlessin its homelandof

Japan,a particularlyfinespot,

closeto Kyoto,is Arashiyama

BambooGrove,whereyoucan

walkin silentwonderamong

toweringbamboostemsonthe

wayto a viewpointoverthecity

anda lovelyShintoshrine.

FThegroveis locatedsix miles

west of the city centre; take the

Find

peace

among

trees

There’snosolace

quitelikethatoffered

bytheforest,whether

you’rewalkingalone

in autumnwoodlands,

climbingin anancient

oaktree,or watching

lightrakethrough

newlyformedbuds

on a spring morning

inEastEgmontandwalking

herefeelslikea glimpse

of Tolkien’sMiddleEarth.

Mistoftenhangsamongthe

thickmossesandfernsand

gnarly,lichen-swathedkamahi

trees,whilenaturalplunge

poolsinvitecontemplative

momentsandcoolingswims.

FGoblinForestis roughlya

five-hourdrivesouthof Auckland.

Goodbasesforexploring

includeKoniniLodgeandThe

Camphouse (doc.govt.nz).

commutertrainfromKyotoStation

to Saga-ArashiyamaStation.

Stayat thestylishlyserene

YadoArashiyamahotel

(from£70:yado.kyoto.jp).

GREENMOUNTAIN

NATIONALFOREST,USA

Timeyourvisitto thisvast

forested,mountainousswath

of Vermontforautumn(mid-

Septemberto October)when

themaple,poplarandbirch

kindle into a riot of scarlets,

rustreds,goldsandambers.

You’llalsofindlooking-glass

lakesandmoose,blackbears

andwhite-taileddeer.

FTheairportin Albanyis

a two-hourdrivefromtheGreen

MountainNationalForest(fs.

usda.gov/gm;accommodationat

airbnb.co.uk/s/Green-Mountain).

GOBLINFOREST,NEW
ZEALAND
Thevolcanoof MountTaranaki
watches over eerie Goblin Forest
PHOTOGRAPH: MATT MUNRO