Wonderful unspoilt nature – 12 day hikes in the Westerwald mountains

Wonderful nature and spectacular views await you on the Kleiner Wäller “Häubchen tour”. The almost six-kilometer round starts on the outskirts of Breitscheid. Before you set off, you can fortify yourself in the Gasthaus Zum Dorfkrug or just stroll through the charming village for a while. But you will still have the opportunity to do so at the end of the tour.You then start hiking on mostly natural paths. Along the edges of the forest, across meadows and fields to the junction to the so-called Roßbach Häubchen. Then over hill and dale to the panoramic plateau. If you are safe on your hiking legs, you can continue to climb from here to the summit. Either way, you're going to love the view!First through a small forest, then over wide field and meadow paths you then walk back towards the center of Breitenfeld. You can end your day relaxed at Brunnenplatz or in one of the local restaurants.

The Kleine Wäller "Wolfsteine" is a particularly eventful tour that is particularly popular with families. The reasons for this are, on the one hand, the impressive Wolfsteine, and on the other hand, the many Bad Marienberg sights that line the seven-kilometer path.It starts at the Bad Marienberg Wildlife Park, from where you walk on a direct forest path to the Little and Big Wolfstein. Fabulous places that you should definitely explore extensively - you can find out everything about their stories on information boards. You continue your hike over the Marienberger Höhe and soon land back in the middle of the charming town center. Walk along the barefoot path in the spa park or stop in one of the many restaurants.The main thing is that you can now tackle the last part of the tour strengthened: Past the basalt lake, you walk back towards the starting point. If there is still time, you can make friends with furry companions in the wildlife park and finally enjoy a wonderful view over the Westerwald at the Hedwigsturm.

Water and basalt, these are the key words on this seven and a half kilometer round tour. It starts at the parking lot of the Ulmbachtalsperre. From here you first walk along the lake and into a forest.Again and again there are beautiful views of the water on the way. You will also "stumble" over rest benches along the way - perfect for enjoying your provisions with you with the best view.For the time being, the Ulmbach will lead you away from the lake and into the center of Beilstein. There is a lot to discover here: a basalt castle church from the 17th century and Beilstein Castle, for example. Again following the stream, you stroll through the BASALT-PARKours, which gives you a lot of useful information about the stone. Then it goes back to your starting point.

A bit of the city, a bit of wilderness and a lot of views. Just a few of the things that await you on the Kleiner Wäller “Hessentagswanderung”. A particularly varied, five-kilometer walk that starts with a highlight: At the starting point is the 17-meter-high Dillblick observation tower, which reveals a wonderful panorama.Then off we go: From the tower, the path leads straight through the game reserve. A section where you can watch goats, llamas, donkeys and even the shy fallow deer. On leisurely paths and streets and past the war cemetery you always keep in the direction of the old town. In summer you also have the opportunity to turn to an outdoor pool.Once in the old town, you will be amazed at the many half-timbered houses, maybe even sit down in one of the nice cafés or treat yourself to a break under the shady giants of the city park. When you are ready, you will make your way back to the starting point at the tower or - if you came by train - to the train station.

An idyllic circular hiking trail awaits you at Wiesensee. On almost six and a half barrier-free kilometers you will explore the banks of the beautiful water and along the way you will always have the opportunity to perfect the excursion with a stop.Start and finish is the parking lot directly at the Wiesensee. Whichever direction you choose, you start hiking around the lake. Because the paths are well developed and can be mastered without major climbs, the round can also be tackled with a stroller or wheelchair.On the way you can always sit down at beautiful picnic spots or plunge into the waves on the beach. With the exception of a small section towards the end of the tour, you never let the water out of your sight.

The Wäller Tour "Buchfinkenland" takes you around 14.5 kilometers around the towns of Gackenbach, Hübingen and Horbach. So you circle the entire area named after the pretty bird. Some historical sights await you.It starts on the outskirts of Gackenbach. And the first highlight is not far: At the edge of the path you will see a pretty little chapel. Then you march on through the wonderful nature, enjoying great views again and again. This is also the case with the Willgenhausen desert. The former settlement has a bank ready for you today, which comes in handy after the slight increase.It's uphill a bit, then the path takes on more leisurely shapes again. The slight ups and downs remain with you throughout the tour. After a good eleven kilometers you will discover another historic part of the Westerwald - the ruins of an old smelter, where ore and silver were once processed. Especially for children, but also for many adults, probably the highlight of this tour. Past a nicely placed rest area, you then slowly walk back towards the starting point.By the way: If - back in Gackenbach - you haven't had enough, then a visit to the Westerwald wildlife and leisure park might be just the right program to follow up your hike. A great experience for the whole family just because of the two brown bears.

A few more kilometers, but also many wonderful natural treasures await you on the Brexbach Gorge Trail. The premium hiking trail takes you over 16 kilometers through the wild and romantic Brexbachtal and to some wonderful viewpoints. But first things first.Let's go in Grenzau. The charming place is not only known for its unique half-timbered houses, but also for the proud castle, which sits slightly elevated on a hill. This is exactly where you march up, only to hike a little later on a natural forest path to the so-called Kaiserstuhl. In serpentines you descend into the wild and romantic Brexbachtal. Here you hike a bit along the tracks of the Brexbachtalbahn and enjoy the wonderful landscape and the quiet forest.Then the crispest ascent of this round follows: It goes up to the Teufelsberg. From the distinctive nose of the terrain, you can once again enjoy an unobstructed view of the valley just explored. Alternating through idyllic forests and across wide meadows, it goes slowly back towards the starting point. You will pass a model airfield, an impressive gorge and finally get back to Grenzau via the Kammerforster Steig.

Almost 21 kilometers filled with wonderful panoramic views, lovely stream valleys and historical buildings await you on the “Iserbachschleife” Wäller tour. But don't let the demanding length scare you off - there is an opportunity to take short cuts along the way. But first you have to start hiking. Namely in Anhausen, from where you start to the east and towards the Steinebachtal.Over enchanted paths and past a small refuge you go straight up to the first highlight of the tour: In the middle of the forest, the Hausenborn church ruin enchants with its mystical nature and its ancient walls - an amazing experience! Immediately afterwards, it's back downhill to the next valley: the Saynbach valley, which accompanies you to Isenburg. Once you have arrived in town, you can take a detour to the ruins - otherwise you will march on cheerfully. After a short ascent to Ebenfeld, the so-called waterway leads you into the wild and romantic Iserbach valley. From Thalhauser Mühle, which marks the abbreviated (yellow) variant back to Anhausen and is also ideal for a stop, idyllic, small fish ponds appear again and again along the way.When you arrive at the picturesque Veltens Weiher, it's not far: through the Siehrsbach valley, it goes slightly upwards to Rüscheid, where you can enjoy another wonderful panorama from the viewing platform. Then you leisurely hike back to your starting point.

In the varied ups and downs, the Wäller Tour Augst takes you past historical sights, through beautiful nature and in between to a glass of well-deserved, liquid gold.It starts at the Neuhäusel-Ost hiking car park. From here you hike through orchards and accompanied by great views of several small villages first in the direction of Eitelborn. After you have crossed the Binnbachtal, you are already standing on the outskirts of Eitelborn. You circle the place, immerse yourself in a mix of vast land with paddocks and colorful mixed forests.After a good seven kilometers, it suddenly appears in front of you: the Sporkenburg ruin, located on a spur of the Schlossberg. Maybe you have provisions with you, then this beautiful place is ideal for a break. You descend along the Theilenbach and then follow the Emsbach to Arzbach. In the old, local beer house you can treat yourself to a beer, then the final spurt is already on: A crisp ascent takes you to the panoramic Mühlberg - the Sonnenweg then leads you back to your starting point.

By now you know: In the Westerwald, spectacular views, historical buildings and unique natural treasures shake hands. This is also noticeable on this ten-kilometer lap. Because smaller and larger sites of the Christian faith are always waiting along the way, the “Hohe Hahnscheid” Waller Tour is also known as the prayer path.The route in the heart of Irmtraut, which was recognized as a quality route for Wanderable Germany in the “Dream Tour” category, starts. You walk through a beautiful forest to the first highlight of the tour, the Hessenblick. It owes its name to the location on the state border between Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse, which runs just 250 meters further down.You march on and soon hear the babbling of the idyllic Holzbach. It leads you on a narrow path directly into the wild and romantic Holzbach gorge. Take your time here to discover the wonderful natural world. You can round off the experience a little later with coffee and cake at Hofgut Dapprich. Then it goes past Seck and over the panorama platform of the St. Michael-Josef-Chapel back to your starting point.

This 18-kilometer adventure tour starts directly on the Fuchskaute. With its 657 meters, it is the highest elevation in the Westerwald and also the home of a nice inn, where you can stop off after your tour.But now you start walking: On the Rothaarsteig you walk in the direction of Rabenscheid. It leads through the wonderful Fuchskaute nature reserve and a constant change between forest and meadow landscapes. So you wander there. Only after Rabenscheid, then shortly afterwards via the Rothaarsteig access path towards Breitscheid.At the level of the Breitscheid landing site you go to the WesterwaldSteig, which will accompany you from now on until the end of your tour. The typical cultural landscape of the High Westerwald does not stop here either - you walk over gently undulating basalt plateaus, open landscapes and past the associated hedges.Until you finally reach the volcanic rock Bartenstein. From this striking rock on, the environment becomes more lovely again. You come to the picturesque Heisterberger Weiher, then to the wonderfully blooming and humid biotopes nature reserve Bermershube. Accompanied by great views, you make your way back to the starting point.

Around eleven varied kilometers with wonderful nature and beautiful buildings await you on the WesterwaldSteig adventure loop "Wiedblick Tour". As always, there is of course one or the other vantage point. The starting point of the tour is directly in Waldbreitbach.You cross the Wied and soon find yourself in the forest. From here you hike on the WesterwaldSteig rating trail. It takes you along the Wied to Hausen with the spectacular Franciscan monastery and then through beautiful nature up towards Malberg. You leave the WesterwaldSteig and continue walking towards Niederbreitbach.Once again over the Wied and past a pretty chapel, the path begins to climb again. Follow the Wiedweg up to the Klosterberg, enjoy a few spectacular views and then dive into a forest. So you hike to the impressive Maria Himmelfahrt church with its unique natural root crib. And so you are more or less at your starting point again.