WesterwaldSteig 1st stage Herborn - Breitscheid (East-West)

Description

Where heraldic animals shine, parrots scream, and cave bears once lived

In Hessian Herborn, everything is under one roof. You cannot get enough of the beautiful, old half-timbered houses. The town hall and the baroque lion fountain, but also the Hohe Schule and the castle, are like gemstones that make Herborn with its towers, gates, and market squares a historical treasure chest. After the bustling activity between street cafés and shop rows, the calm of the upcoming hiking stage follows. To the cozy green of hills and valleys comes later magnificent plumage and the most beautiful birdsong. Amazed, you see flamingos and parrots, the fiery red of the common redstart seems like a trip into exotic animal worlds from distant lands. How good that you still feel Westerwald soil under your feet in the Herborn animal park and soon dive into the stories of the earth. The Erdbach also disappears underground for a while to say hello again later. You follow the rocks and immerse yourself in a world far before our time. The Large and Small Stone Chambers appear like an adventure. You climb the path up and discover a cave that served as a dwelling for Stone Age people. It is reassuring that cave lions and cave bears are history. Soon you reach the Herbstlabyrinth dripstone cave, which weaves fairy-tale formations in the heart of the earth and lets you share in its magic.

Approach

From the south or north: via the A45 to Herborn-West exit, then via B255 towards Herborn city center or via B277

From the east or west: via B255 towards Herborn

Public transport

Arrival by public transport

Bus/train to Herborn (Hessen) central bus station: from Herborn train station, a path of just under 400 m is marked to the starting point of the WesterwaldSteig at the market square.

Back to the stage start

From Breitscheid to Herborn by bus line 510 (Monday-Saturday).

Bus stop Breitscheid: Breitscheid town hall (The entrance to the WesterwaldSteig is about 170 m from the bus stop at the intersection of Siedlungsstraße/Mühlenstraße)
Bus stop Herborn: Herborn train station/central bus station (A path about 400 m long leads from the station to the starting point of the WesterwaldSteig.)

www.bahn.de

www.vrminfo.de

Taxi recommendation:

Taxi Mehl, Herborn, Tel. 02772/3071
Minicar Dill (9-seater available), Tel. 02772 / 3616
Elas Minicar, Tel. 02772/924007
Minicar on Tour, Tel. 02772/6464780

Our hiking tip for sustainable hiking guests: Travel by train to Herborn and from there a multi-day hike to Rehe (stage 2) or Rennerod (stage 3). Return Monday to Friday with bus line 520 and Saturdays as well as on Sundays and public holidays with the "Blue Line" 521 (travel time approx. 1 hour each).

Here you can find more hiking route tips with bus and train connections.

Parking

Herborn:
Free of charge: city parking lot (shooting range), commuter parking spaces at train station/central bus station
Charged parking: Kallenbachstraße, Hintersand, Schmaler Weg

Breitscheid: above the church (Kirchstr.)

Directions

Historically, there is probably no better starting point for the WesterwaldSteig than the Hessian half-timbered town of Herborn in the Dill valley. The first documented mention of the Westerwald for the forest area west of the Königshof Herborn is recorded in a document from 1048. One could almost say that the cradle of the Westerwald is in Herborn. The first stage of the WesterwaldSteig starts on the market square framed by half-timbered houses over 400 years old. Particularly worth seeing are the coat of arms frieze on the town hall and the baroque lion fountain erected in 1732 on the market square. Passing many small shops, cafés, and half-timbered houses, the trail leaves the town via Dollenbergstraße. After the first paved part of the road, you will soon get a forest path under your feet that leads around the 296-meter-high Dollenberg. A broad path leads you through mixed forest down into the Ambachtal and back up to the former comital hunting lodge Neuhaus. Through the Donsbach valley, the trail heads toward the Herborn animal park. With about 100 bird species, it draws around 40,000 visitors annually. The WesterwaldSteig passes through Uckersdorf and leaves the town heading steadily uphill toward Gonkelrain. Over the Kramberg, it proceeds on the slope of Mühlberg towards Erdbach. At the height of the cemetery, you can already hear the rustling of the Erdbach stream. The small watercourse disappears below Breitscheid in the Kleingrubenloch and flows about a kilometer underground before it reemerges near the Schützenhaus. Shortly afterwards, you reach the first highlight of the tour: the Large and Small Stone Chambers. It goes steeply uphill to the rocks that are already visible from afar. Exploring the caves is an experience when you imagine that they served as living spaces for people in prehistoric times. Along the upper edge of the quarry, the route continues to the "Herbstlabyrinth" dripstone cave opened in 2009, Europe's first LED-lit cave. Continuing through the Faules Feld, you will soon reach the stage destination Breitscheid.

Access paths (marking: green W on yellow background):

• From Herborn market square, the starting point of the WesterwaldSteig, to the train station (approx. 0.4 km)
• From Neuhaus to Dillenburg (approx. 6.3 km)

Safety instructions

If you believe that certain sections of paths are not passable for you, then you should avoid them. Especially in adverse weather conditions, natural paths can become muddy and slippery in places.

Especially in autumn, it is important to be aware that fallen leaves on the ground can conceal unevenness, roots, stones, or holes in the path. You must expect such path impairments when undertaking a hike.

Although the route is continuously well marked, for safety reasons you should always carry a suitable hiking map or download the free app "Experience Rhineland-Palatinate".

Equipment

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

Take sufficient liquids with you. There are not always places to stop for food or drink.

Please wear hiking boots appropriate for the path, which also provide enough support on slippery, steep, rocky, and uneven routes.

Tips

Stroll along the karst and cave nature trail through the autumn-colored, deep gorge forests and discover mysterious cave worlds.

Literature

Accordion hiking map WesterwaldSteig at a scale of 1:25,000

Order at www.westerwald-shop.info.

Destination

Breitscheid, Protestant Church

Starting Point

Herborn, market square, a marked access path leads from the nearby train station to the market square