Landkreis Altenkirchen (Westerwald) walks

A beautiful hike through the forest area between Herdorf, Biersdorf and Niederdreisbach. There are a few metres of elevation gain, as we pass the Hachenburger Höhe and the Kohlenberg, partly via the Hellerhöhenweg. Along the way, we canenjoywide views again and again.

This is a short loop thatmostlyfollows the signs for the Druidensteig trail. It starts off nice and flat along the Sottersbach stream and then climbs quite steeply to a lovely spot with a swing and a hut in the middle of the forest, where children can let off some steam.

This varied circular hike takes you through the idyllic Mahlscheid nature reserve, past the informative forest nature trail to the striking Hüllbuche beech tree. The popular Köppel restaurant is the halfway point. The first section of the tour is particularly challenging and offers some tough climbs. You will be rewarded along the way with impressive views of the Westerwald landscape.

This route is also one of the highlights of the Cologne Trail. From the Grenzbachtal valley, we climb up to Horhausen and reach two former mines, the Otto-Stollen and the Friedrich-Wilhelm-Grube, near Niedersteinebach. Later, above Niedersteinebach, we reach a wonderful vantage point and hike through forests past a "legendary" oak tree to Peterslahr. We visit Ehrenstein Monastery, cross the Wied, pass through the Metteshahner Schweiz, reach the Bertenauer Kopf and finally arrive in Neustadt.

This exceptionally varied hike first takes us through meadows, pastures and forests to the Nister, a small tributary of the Sieg. At Alhausen, a village with beautiful half-timbered houses, we cross the Nister and continue above the river on wonderful narrow paths to Heimborn. This is one of the most picturesque sections of the entire Cologne Trail.