Berwang sits on a high, sunny terrace above the Lech valley, at about 1,300 metres, a village of wooden chalets and green meadows, with the long ridge of the Lechtal Alps behind and the great bulk of the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain, visible to the north-east. It is part of the Zugspitz Arena, a ski and hiking region that spans the border of Tyrol and Bavaria, and the village is a good deal busier than its neighbour Namlos, with hotels, a few shops and lifts.
The mood is quiet and rural. In summer, cows graze on the meadows, and walkers set out for the ridges, while in winter, snow covers everything and the village becomes a small family ski centre. Berwang has a modest charm, with a simple church and a long main street, and the houses are decorated with painted shutters and window boxes full of geraniums. The people here are proud of their alpine traditions, and in spring and autumn, the cattle drives from and to the high pastures, with the cows decorated with flowers, are a spectacle.
The road from Namlos to Berwang, a pass of sorts, climbs through forest and open meadows, with good views and gentle curves, and is a quiet link between two valleys. Down the other side, the road drops toward Bichlbach and Heiterwang, passing the lake of Heiterwang, which is warm enough for swimming in summer. It is easy riding, with fair surfaces and moderate traffic, though in the high season, cyclists and walkers share the road, and the occasional tractor slows the pace. Weather in the area can change quickly, and fog and rain are common in spring and autumn.
For the curious, the region has fine history close by. The castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau, built for the Bavarian kings in the nineteenth century, lie just across the border near Füssen, about thirty kilometres away. The Fernpass, a major route between Bavaria and the Inn valley, passes nearby, and Ehrwald, at the foot of the Zugspitz, has a cable car to the summit.
Reutte, nine kilometres away, is the nearest large town, and has fuel, supermarkets and restaurants. The village itself has a few places for a coffee and cake, and a hearty mountain lunch. Fill up in Reutte before heading into the hills, and bring a layer, as the evenings are cool.