The Chastelbach and Ibach streams from Grellingen

Departure from the car park at Grellingen SBB railway station.

Yellow diamond markings (short hike)

(S/E) Head west for about 150 m until you reach a crossroads near a level crossing.

(1) Cross the railway line to the left, then follow the road uphill. After about 100 metres, in the wide left-hand bend, take the road on the right towards Oberer Moosweg and Maya's Häxehüsli (restaurant). Stay on this road, which runs alongside the railway line, until you reach the junction with Rüttiweg, which climbs to the left.

(2) Continue right for about 100 metres along the railway line and you will see a passageway under the railway line on the right, at the small bridge over the Chastelbach stream.

(3) Leave this passage on your right, as it is the way back. Continue for a few dozen metres and turn left onto the path (Chastelbachweg) towards Maya's Häxehüsli restaurant, about 200 metres away. Continue uphill on this path, which is joined by another path coming from the right and arrives at a hairpin bend.

(4) Leave Chastelbachweg, which goes to the right, and climb to the left, following the Chastelbach stream. The path leads to a road (Grellingerstrasse).

(5) Turn right towards the cross, follow the road to the next cross and leave it to descend to the right on the path to the small bridge.

(6) Cross the bridge and climb up to the left to reach a small hamlet belonging to Himmelried next to the fountain. A small bench near a knife maker's workshop provides a place to rest after the climb.

(7) Continue right on Kaltbrunnentalstrasse, towards the descent, where a sign indicates the Kaltbrunnental restaurant. When you reach the restaurant car park, continue along the tarmac road, which descends steeply and joins a T-junction.

(8) Continue downhill to the left. When the slope levels out, after a right-hand bend, the road crosses a bridge over the Ibach, then immediately afterwards reaches the start of a path on the right.

(9) Take this path to the right, heading towards Chessiloch, Grellingen, due north, following one bank or the other of the stream until you reach the Karstlherpfad. Several signs provide information in German about this educational trail (see practical information for details in French)
Follow the path along the River Ibach. Pass several faults and caves in the cliff. The most remarkable is the Ibachhöhle.

(10) Enjoy a visit to the cave, where a spring flows from the opening. Continue north, passing one last time on the left bank of the Ibach, and join a path. Keep going in the same direction to reach the bank of the Birse.

(11) Turn right onto Dägenauerweg. After a few hundred metres, you will see graffiti left by soldiers during the^First World War on the cliff on the right.

(12) The path continues along the railway line and rejoins the Chastelbachweg, which you took on the way there, then, about 30 metres further on, the passage under the railway line at the small bridge over the Chastelbach. Note: the Swisstopo map shows a passage over the railway line 100 metres before this point, but it no longer exists.

(3) Descend to the left under the railway line, following the stream, and then climb back up to reach Unterer Moosweg. Turn right onto the tarmac road to return to the junction near the level crossing you encountered on the way there and reach the car park at Grellingen station (S/E).

This route can be very slippery after rain or storms, so wear suitable footwear.

There are a few benches and picnic areas with barbecue facilities along the route.

Refreshments are available at Maya's Häxehüsli from May to October www.mayas-häxehüsli.ch or Restaurant Häxehüüsli and Restaurant Kaltbrunnental (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)

For further information on the Karstlehrpfad, see www.karstlehrpfad.ch or Sentier didactique du Karst ( the website is also available in French)