I will be visiting Neuschwanstien in a couple weeks with my elderly father. He is very mobile but has issues with walking up hills as he gets winded. If there are benches to sit on then he can rest.
So my question is what is the best way to get up the hill? I believe that the options are the Bus or the horse drawn cairage the question is how steep/long are the relative walks?
As a second question how steep and long is the walk to the bridge and back?
Thank you for any advice
Just from your description, IMO, the hill will be too long and steep for him. Cant say for the bridge.
I would suggest the carriage or the bus for him. The walk is quite steep. He can try for the bridge but if it is too much he just just turn around and go back.
I guess I was not clear I am assuming that will will take the bus or the cairage but which walk is easier the one from the bus I believe is longer.
My father can walk distance and we did the Tower of London last year but he used a few benches along the way
The carriages take you to about 500 yards (1/4 mi) from the castle entrance. From where the carriages stop, it is a moderately steep walk to the castle, but there is an area to rest, with benches, part way up.
The bus takes you to the bridge above the castle. It is a steep walk down.
I took the side trail up the hill from the village the last time but from what I remember of the main road it is winding with a couple of lookout points, can’t remember if there are benches or not. From what you say, I think it will be too steep for your dear old dad, despite what some might claim about how easy it is, so take the bus (cheaper). From Marienbrücke to the castle it’s a bit up and down, mainly a down gradient on the way, you may have to rest for a minute on the way back. It’s about fifteen minutes or so down, regular pace. This website has been fairly accurate for me on a number of occasions, it also has a wonderful name:
https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm
When in Hohenschwangau, I make a point of dining at the Hotel Müller ( I love saying that). On the patio if it is nice outside.
Being as we are staying at that hotel I suppose we could eat dinner there :)
The horse carriages get you closest to the castle but it is still a pretty steep walk from where they drop you off to the entrance. There is a small area with benches part of the way up. There are no other benches along the way. That said, if you think your dad will need extra time, make sure you factor that in to your admission time - tickets are timed. Give yourself an extra half hour or so he can rest as needed and not have to rush. Inside the castle there a few flights of circular stairs. How about one of those little folding seats, just looks like a tripod with a round seat attached. They appear easy to carry and he could just pop it open when needed.
Google maps has a lot of 360° photos of the trail. Drag Google's Pegman (lower right corner of screen) to the area you want to see. The photo locations are marked by small circles.
"Being as we are staying at that hotel I suppose we could eat dinner there :)" - they do (or used to do) a very nice take on goulash soup, shredded beef.
