Walchensee / Southern Bavaria / Germany

Walchensee Lake nestles in the mountainous region of southern Bavaria close to the Austrian border and is said be the deepest lake in Germany. It covers just over 16 square kms and because of its continuous thermal winds, is a Mecca for kite and wind surfers of intermediate and professional abilities. The best time to go is from April to August; however, the height of the summer does get packed with tourists.

The beach is small and pebbly, so you might need to pick your spot carefully. To find it you need to take the S2370 out of Grosswell towards Kochel, then head south on the B11 following the signs for Walchensee. Park in the car park by the lake and it’s about a 15-20 minute walk down to the lakeside from here.

The winds here are thermal and come from a northerly direction which is also the best direction for surfing. Wind speed tends to hang around 6-18 knots but can get fairly gusty. The best winds tend to occur during the spring and the summer and the strongest winds tend to come from cold nights and hot days with no rain. The thermals then kick in around noon. The water quality is clear and the waves are shallow and flat so with the right northerly breeze, it is one of the fastest places to surf.

Walchensee is a tourist spot so there are plenty of shops, bars, accommodation and places to eat.

Watch out for sharp stones in the water at low tide.