Schluchsee, Germany

A far larger body of water than the Titisee and farther off the beaten track, 10km to its south, is the more relaxed Schluchsee. It's a quiet, calm and clean lake and several communities bask in its peace along its eastern shore. The largest, also called SCHLUCHSEE, has a reasonable beach, managed as the Aqua Fun Strandbad (late May to mid-Sept daily 9am–7pm; € 3.80; Tel:07656/77 32), the most popular place to swim on the lake. The town is also the local hub for sailing and windsurfing as well as the boat trips of Thomas Toth, which circle the lake at hourly intervals (May to late Oct 10am–5pm; € 6; Tel:07656/92 30, Web: www.seerundfahrten.de ) and stop at various points where you can hop on and off. Meanwhile, on land, you might try the easy two-hour walk up to the Riesenbühlturm (1097m) for lake views, and on to the Vogelhaus, Unterfischbach 12 (June– Aug Tues– Sun 1–4pm), 1km northeast, where for 25 years Helga Reichenbach has been crafting all manner of traditional Black Forest costume and handicrafts; you can pick up a mini-Bollenhut. The walk starts off Dresselbacher Strasse just northeast of town and continues up a forestry track just to the right of a sports centre; maps of this and other local walks are available from the tourist office. Schluchsee lies at the end of a branch line 16km from the town of Titisee and served by local trains which arrive at the lakefront.