Kölner Weg stage 06

Description

Repeatedly, new, surprising views open up to us. Behind Ehrentalsmühle, we have a somewhat longer ascent in the forest to Ückersteifen and are rewarded for our effort with a view of the Hammer Ländchen. Passing the wonder beech near Birkenbeul, we finally ascend the Beulskopf with the Raiffeisen tower. Along forest edges, we pass Hilgenroth, reach beautiful forest again, and finally Marienthal with the former monastery.

Route profile: A nice hike with some not very strenuous climbs. The hiking route runs mostly on forest paths and offers many views.

Approach

At exit A3 36-Neuwied, continue on B256 heading towards Neuwied/Rengsdorf/Altenkirchen/Flammersfeld, continue on B256 to Schürdt, L276 and L147 to Alte Marktstraße in Leuscheid, Windeck.

Public transport

Starting point: RE9 (Aachen – Siegen) or S12 (Düren – Au/Sieg) to Herchen station and from there further with VRS dial-a-ride taxi (AST) 587 Windeck to the stop Leuscheid Kurhaus; good connections on weekdays.

Endpoint: by private railway from Marienthal monastery to Au/Sieg and further with RE9 or S12

Parking

Starting point: some parking options at Pesos country inn and in Leuscheid (free of charge)

Endpoint: some parking options in Marienthal (free of charge)

Directions

We start at the corner of Kuchhausener Kirchweg/Am Kurheim in Leuscheid. The K leads us out of the village into open terrain with a magnificent panoramic view of the Westerwald. Then the path turns right, shortly afterwards left, running along a forest edge. Soon we cross the road from Alsen to Eutscheid and pass the Eutscheid on the right. Our hiking route undulates gently through the hilly landscape. Rowan trees and fruit trees accompany us on both sides of the path. At a crossing with a bench, we turn right and pass Röhrigshof (1.6 kilometers). Then the Kölner Weg gradually descends into the valley and turns into a winding asphalt path, on which we reach Ehrentalsmühle (3.3 kilometers).

For a few meters, we walk left on the L120 and then turn right onto the L312 at its junction. On the right side of the road, we note the former mill building at Ehrentalsmühle. Just behind the building, we turn right again and now follow a meadow path that leads us towards a forest. Shortly afterwards, we cross the Irsenbach, which here forms the state border between North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate. The path meanders through primeval forest, returns to the road, where we walk a short stretch, then turns left. We walk along a forest edge and turn right into a forest area, which is quickly crossed. Afterwards, we meet the road Ückertseifen – Birkenbeul again, stay on it briefly, and leave it behind a small group of trees to the right onto a field path. Shortly afterwards we skirt the outskirts of Birkenbeul. The K runs towards a forest again and leads us to a natural monument, the wonder beech.

After a short time, we turn into a shady side valley, slowly climb a hollow path, come out onto fields and meadows, and pass the village of Ückertseifen (4.6 kilometers). We leave the village on an asphalt road towards Niederirsen, but soon turn left and head towards the forest edge in front of us, reaching the road from Ückertseifen to Birkenbeul, where a wonderful panoramic view of the Hammer Ländchen and the Bergisches Land opens up. However, the K leads into the forest beforehand.

The path meanders through primeval forest, returns to the road, where we walk a short stretch, then turns left. We walk along a forest edge and turn right into a forest area quickly crossed. Afterwards, we meet the road Ückertseifen – Birkenbeul again, stay on it briefly, and leave it behind a small group of trees to the right onto a field path. Shortly afterwards we skirt the outskirts of Birkenbeul. The K runs towards a forest again and leads us to a natural monument, the wonder beech. The path continues to climb and after a while we meet a wooden figure, the Köhler-Jörg.

A final ascent leads up to the 388-meter-high Beulskopf (8.8 kilometers) with its 35-meter-high Raiffeisen tower.

From 420 meters altitude, you have a magnificent view to the winding tower of the Georg mine near Willroth on the A3 motorway, to Montabaurer Höhe with the Köppelturm, to Salzburger Kopf in the high Westerwald, and as far as the Siebengebirge. The Beulskopf also forms the watershed between the Sieg and Wied rivers. From the Beulskopf, it goes down to Beul. Directly on the way is the inn/pension Hubertushöhe. The Kölner Weg leads past the inn on the right. Soon we hike again in a mixed forest. Later, we cross the heavily trafficked K37 road from Altenkirchen to Hilgenroth. Our path now runs briefly left along the K37 and then turns left at the forest edge in front of us. From the valley left, the church tower of Hilgenroth rises. At the end of the forest, we turn briefly left, then right again, and descend to the K52. From here, a short detour to Hilgenroth is possible. We cross the K52 and hike into the Erbach valley. A sign shows the direction and distance – 1.4 kilometers – to the Obererbach stop. But we climb out of the valley. Again, we head towards a forest edge, turn left, and reach the shelter “Waldesruh” on a wide path. Shortly afterwards, we turn right into a mixed forest with many tall pines. We cross a road and reach the cross path, which leads us after many loops and twists to Marienthal monastery (13.8 kilometers).

In Marienthal, you can dine or stay at the Waldhotel Imhäuser, Haus Elisabeth, or Marienthaler Hof. If you want to depart by train, just turn left at the junction of the hiking trail onto the street Am Kloster and go uphill to the next curve. At the apex of the curve, a forest path branches off to the right to the railway stop.

Safety instructions

If you think certain sections of the paths are not passable for you, you should avoid them. Especially in adverse weather conditions, natural paths can have muddy and slippery sections.

Particularly in autumn, note that fallen leaves can conceal unevenness, roots, stones or holes in the path. You must expect path impairments of this kind when undertaking a hike.

Although the path is very well marked throughout, for safety reasons you should always have a suitable hiking map with you or download the free app "Experience Rhineland-Palatinate".

Equipment

Wear sturdy footwear and weather-appropriate, practical clothing that protects against cold and wet or heat and sun.

Take sufficient fluids with you. There are not opportunities to stop everywhere.

Please wear suitable hiking boots that provide enough support even on slippery and steep or rocky and uneven paths.

Trekking poles are an advantage!

Destination

former Marienthal monastery

Starting Point

Leuscheid