Little Wäller Basalt + Water - Greifenstein

Description

My route begins at the parking lot of the Ulmbachtalsperre. I walk over the dam along the lake into the forest. Soon I discover a geological feature: a ridge quartzite cliff – formed from the originally pure sandy shores of the Lower Carboniferous period. I follow the Ulmbach along meadow paths and reach the village center of Beilstein with its beautiful basalt castle church from the 17th century. On the left, Burg Beilstein greets me. Once a count's seat, the restored basalt building is now privately owned. My path leads me over the babbling Ulmbach to the BASALT-PARKours, which shows me the many uses of the stone. Via the track of the former Ulmtal railway, now developed into the Ulmtal cycle path, I walk back to the Ulmbachtalsperre. Along the way, idyllic rest areas and viewpoints invite me to enjoy the surroundings.

Approach

• From Herborn on B 277 to Ehringshausen-Katzenfurt, then on L 3282 and L 3324 to the destination
• From Wetzlar/Limburg on B49 to Leun-Biskirchen, then on L 3324 to the destination
• By bike from Westerwald via R7 and Ulmtal cycle path, from Lahntal via Lahntal cycle path and Ulmtal cycle path

Public transport

VLDW line 120/125 from Wetzlar or Weilburg, stop: Beilstein, Ulmtalsperre (timetable 2020)

Parking

Parking lot at the Ulmbachtalsperre, Ulmbachtalsperre 1, 35753 Greifenstein (possibly paid)

Directions

From the paid parking lot at the Ulmbachtalsperre, I walk to the dam and study the info board about the route on the right. Then I cross the 280-meter-long paved dam and gaze over the water. At the end, a sign tells me interesting facts about the reservoir, for example, that it was built from 1963 to 1966 to dam the water of the Ulmbach and to protect the three villages of the Ulmtal from flooding during heavy rain. I continue left onto a paved path about 600 meters around half of the reservoir into a forested area. This is separated from the Ulmbach by a large riverside area left to renaturation. At the Kammquarzitklippe geotope, the huge remnant from the Lower Carboniferous era roughly 340 million years ago, I take a short rest on a bench. Then I continue along the stream and reach the Beilstein district after about 1.5 kilometers, where I cross the Ulmbach for the first time. I walk right, about 100 meters uphill on the road, then turn left and stroll about 800 meters on a meadow path and past gardens into the village. The path on the left leads to the Ulmbach, which I cross again, then I turn right onto Herborner Straße. On the left I see the basalt castle church, built from 1614 to 1616 in the late Renaissance style. As I continue walking, I catch a glimpse of Burg Beilstein on my left, once home to the counts of Nassau-Beilstein and Nassau-Dillenburg. It was expanded into a castle in 1612 and is now privately owned. I continue, crossing the Ulmbach a third time and after about 150 meters turn left towards the BASALT-PARKours. In the small, idyllic park I learn at several stations about the various ways the stone, which is still quarried in the village today, can be used. At the end of the BASALT-PARKours, I glance at the artificial turf field of TuSpo Beilstein. It is surrounded by basalt boulders and therefore called the “Basalt Arena.”

At the end of the park, I cross the Ulmbach for the last time and then Schlossstraße. I follow the street “Zur Schmalburg” about 100 meters uphill, then turn left onto the paved Ulmtal cycle path. The former track of the Ulmtal railway, on which the legendary BALKAN EXPRESS even ran between 1921 and 1976, has been converted in several sections into a cycle and footpath connection. This connects Westerwald and Lahntal over almost 22 kilometers. On the right, the large rest area “Beilstein” invites me to rest and look at a replica of the former clay loading facility. An info board tells about basalt quarrying with historical background. Well rested, I continue on the Ulmtal cycle path, past another smaller rest area, the former stop “Wallendorf.” Shortly after, I reach a viewpoint where I enjoy the view of the Ulmbachtalsperre and the Ulmtal on a reclining bench. Shortly before leaving the cycle path track, I admire the two listed basalt bridge structures, renovated in 2019. Back at the Ulmbachtalsperre, I put my swimwear to use because in summer the reservoir becomes a bathing lake, and some anglers wait for their catch on the shore. Right next to it is a campsite with tent and caravan pitches and four mini-houses for overnight stays by cyclists and hikers.

After a refreshing swim, I treat myself to a stop at the local guesthouse with beer garden.

Tips

• Pack swimwear and swim in the Ulmbachtalsperre reservoir (paid entry)!
• Stop at the large beer garden at the Ulmbachtalsperre
• Every first Sunday in July: “Market in the Park” around the BASALT-PARKours

Destination

Ulmbachtalsperre, 35753 Greifenstein

Starting Point

Ulmbachtalsperre, 35753 Greifenstein