Westerwald-Steig Stage 7: Nistertal - Bad Marienberg (East - West)

Description

From Nistertal, the trail leads through beech forests to Hardt and past Langebach to Bad Marienberg. The spa town of Bad Marienberg in the High Westerwald is the ideal place for a long relaxing break. Refresh your tired feet on the bare foot path made up of 18 different ground coverings – from ticklish pine cones, smooth bark, round river pebbles to rough tree grates. Enjoy the pleasant fragrances wafting from the flower and herb gardens on either side of the path. More than 100 different plants, from mullein to lavender, grow in the nearby apothecary's garden.

Brief description

The short path from Nistertal to the spa town of Bad Marienberg leaves you plenty of time to enjoy the park with its barefoot path and herb garden and to take a stroll through the town.

Approach

From the north: via the B414 to the Nistertal exit
From the south: via the B255 to the Nistertal exit

Public transport

Train from Cologne or Limburg to Nistertal-Bad Marienberg
Return journey from Bad Marienberg to Nistertal: bus no. 483
www.bahn.de
www.vectus-online.de
www.rmv-bus.de

Parking

Nistertal train station

Directions

The short path from Nistertal to Bad Marienberg initially leads through beech forest along an old railway line. In places, the trail is accompanied by the River Nister. You can catch glimpses of an impressive old railway bridge through the trees, behind which a narrow path leads up the steep slope. The spa town of Bad Marienberg in the High Westerwald is the ideal place for a long relaxing break. Refresh your tired feet on the barefoot path in the park. Several information boards provide information about herbal medicine practised by Father Kneipp. It's also worth leaving the trail to visit the Marienquelle fountain and the Bacher Ley nature reserve.
Access paths (marking: green W on a yellow background)

Safety instructions

Wear sturdy shoes and appropriate, weatherproof clothing that protects you from cold and wet or heat and sun.Take enough liquid with you. There are not always places to stop for refreshments.Please wear walking shoes appropriate for the trail, which will give you sufficient grip even on slippery and steep or rocky and uneven paths.If you are of the opinion that certain sections of the trail are not passable for you, then you should avoid them. Especially in adverse weather conditions, muddy and slippery passages can occur on natural paths.Especially in autumn, you should also be aware that leaves lying on the ground can hide uneven surfaces, roots, stones or holes in the path. You must expect path impairments of this kind when you undertake a hike.Although the trail is very well marked throughout, you should always have a suitable hiking map with you for safety reasons.

Equipment

Hiking boots/shoes
Suitable weatherproof clothing

Tips

For connoisseurs: visit the Birkenhof distillery in Nistertal and enjoy the Westerwald-Steig schnapps produced there ('Meilenstein' and 'Wegweiser') or enjoy the special Westerwald-Steig hot chocolate at Café Wäller in Bad Marienberg

Literature

- Wanderkarte-Leporello Westerwald-Steig, hiking map with GPS data and tips for day trips, rest stops and leisure activities, map size (w x h): 18 x 20 cm, 39 pages in total, including 29 pages of maps, ISBN 978-3-89920-461-2, €8.95 - Official WesterWaldSteig trail map for hikers and holidaymakers, 1:50 000 scale map, LVermGeo Rheinland-Pfalz, ISBN 978-3-89637-406-6, €8.50

Destination

Bad Marienberg

Starting Point

Nistertal