Hilkhausen - AK Bike Route 3 "Between Birnbach and Mehrbach Valley"

Description

On this bike route, we experience how varied a ride through the gently rolling landscape around Altenkirchen is. Sometimes wide panoramic views, sometimes small curved stream valleys, and in between idyllic villages with a long tradition.

The landscape here is still very natural, so it is not surprising that we almost always see the red kite and other birds of prey here.

If time permits, we make a detour to the half-timbered village of Mehren and look at the church and the village prison.

We continue over the Giershausen Heights into the Birnbach valley. By far one of the most beautiful valley sections in the region. The meandering stream, the natural meadows, and the rocky bordering of the road are impressive. Slowly we snake up to Hemmelzen, where we take a break at the restaurants "Stähler" or "Heisterholz" before cycling back to Hilkhausen through another idyllic small valley below the Asberg.

Approach

Via the B 8 to Weyerbusch and from here via Finkenweg to Hilkhausen

Parking

Free parking at the community center,
Talweg 6 57635 Weyerbusch-Hilkhausen

Directions

In Hilkhausen we cycle westward through the "Old Village Street" up to Raiffeisenstraße (L276), an old high-level connection between Weyerbusch and Flammersfeld.

On the left lies the Asberg, which with its 333 meters in height offers a wide view of the surroundings. We stay only a short distance on the more heavily trafficked L 276 to turn off in Heuberg towards Kraam.

What follows is a leisurely ride downhill, with a beautiful view into the Mehrbach valley. On the right, we look towards Forstmehren and on the left, we can already see the church of the half-timbered village Mehren.

At the valley bottom, you look directly opposite the bridge to Mehrbachstraße at the former

Kraamer mill from the 16th century. The mill pond is still clearly visible.

Before the turnoff to Mehren-Adorf, we should take a small detour to the partially listed half-timbered village Mehren (from here 500 m further straight ahead). A Romanesque church, lots of half-timbering, and a village prison from the 15th century are the highlights of the place.

The route continues to Adorf-Seifen, where a short ascent of 40 meters has to be overcome, but here we also get to see a unique natural monument: an over 200-year-old hornbeam arch on the right-hand side of the road in front of house no. 15.
Right next to it is the Mehrbach restaurant. It is usually open on weekends.

We continue towards Giershausen, along a connecting road located about 280 meters high with varied vegetation and a beautiful view. Behind Giershausen, we cross Raiffeisenstraße again and then ride downhill into the valley of the Birnbach.

From Walterschen, a small water channel accompanies us into the charming Birnbach valley. The road here follows the winding course of the stream and is bordered on the right by a partly steep forest slope. The route is narrow and somewhat unclear, so we should definitely not ride side by side.

Going uphill, we pass an old mill. Not much of it is visible anymore, but an old bakehouse in these buildings is still in use today. In Hemmelzen we cross the stream and immediately turn sharply left towards Hilkhausen. We can stop at the "Stähler" inn, or continue cycling through the small valley back to Hilkhausen. This time below the Asberg, which we already got to know at the beginning of the ride.

Tips

In Heuberg (behind the little water house, left of Raiffeisenstraße) there is a great viewpoint with a "distance marking table". A worthwhile detour.

Literature

Topographic map 1:25,000, sheet 1, Northern Westerwald, 5th edition 2015, cost: 3 euros

(available via the VG Altenkirchen-Flammersfeld or in the UNIKUM regional shop, Altenkirchen)

Destination

Community center Hilkhausen, Talweg 6, 57635 Weyerbusch-Hilkhausen

Starting Point

Community center Hilkhausen, Talweg 6, 57635 Weyerbusch-Hilkhausen