Villas in Altmühltal

In Bavaria, roughly between Nuremberg, Ingolstadt and Regensburg. The Altmühl river winds east through a limestone valley to join the Danube at Kelheim, and much of the area is a large nature park.

Riedenburg for castles, boat trips and the Danube gorge, or Beilngries for a walled town base on the cycle path. Solnhofen suits fossil hunters and canoeists, and Wemding works for trips to Nördlingen and the Ries.

Yes. It follows the river and is mostly flat, with long stretches away from roads. Plenty of families ride short sections between towns and take the train or a boat back.

Yes. The river is slow and suits beginners, and hire firms run trips with transport back to your start point, mainly between May and September. Trips can be stopped when the water is too low.

Yes. Visitor quarries near Solnhofen and Eichstätt let you split limestone slabs and keep ordinary finds. The museums in Solnhofen and Eichstätt display Archaeopteryx fossils from the same rock.

Munich for Riedenburg and the eastern end, around an hour by car. Nuremberg is a little closer for Beilngries and Solnhofen.

Only for a quiet break. There is no skiing, the boats stop running and some guesthouses and museums close or open less often. Spring and early autumn are better for walking and cycling.