Circular hike Winterscheid

From the parking lot at Winterscheidermühle, walk a short distance uphill along the road to Litterscheid. Until a path (marking A9) branches off to the right and follows the slope. This leads us to Litterscheid where we follow the village street for about 100m and then turn right into Altenroth street. Here we leave path A9. Immediately after the last house on the left side, we go steeply down into the valley on a meadow path and then back up the slope a bit.

There we come across a forest path, which we follow to the left. Here, markings A9 and A10 also appear again. We follow the forest path until we reach a paved road.

Here we turn left and walk about 500m along the road (marking X) towards Fußhollen. At the intersection (right to Mertens, left to Fußhollen, cycling junction 23) we continue straight on the forest path for about 800m.

The turn off to the left down the hill is not so easy to find. About 150m before the turn off there is a concrete cover on the left side of the path. It is a grass-covered path for forestry machines (depending on the season, a trail may be visible) that goes straight down. In the last third of the path, a path branches off to the right. (On the left at the tree there's still a slightly faded red marking from forest workers, as well as a path marking A7 on a tree on the same side but set back a bit) If after about 20m on the right a marking A7 appears, then it is the right path. We follow this path to Schmitzdörfgen.

If you do not find the turn off or do not want to walk through the tall grass, continue along the forest road until it ends (large stone blocks). At the no entry sign, turn left into a cart path. After a short time the path disappears. Here we keep to the right and walk down the slope towards the cow pasture. At the end of the slope (marking A7) we continue straight on the path towards the farm.

In Schmitzdörfgen we walk past a memorial stone against our previous direction. We turn left into the small street (marking A7) that leads downhill to the district road 17. Here we turn right and after about 150m walk on a field path that meets the road at a sharp angle, over the hill into the forest.

There we keep right. We come to a larger forest path, which we follow to the right. Soon marking X and A1 appear. The path ends at a road. We turn left following marking A1 and after about 100m leave it to the right onto a forest path with a barrier (various markings).

Immediately at the upcoming junction with a larger forest path, we turn right into a path (marking A3 and triangle). It goes downhill, we cross a small stream and follow the path. Marking A3 then accompanies us to Kuchem. Just after the town sign and the chapel, we turn left into the street "Am Waldrand."

At the end of the street, we go left following the small street to Hänscheid. Here we have a magnificent view over the Bergisches Land and to Rupprichterroth. A hiking hut with a view of Schönenberg invites you to rest. There are still 7.5 km ahead. We keep following the street until we meet a larger road and a guesthouse. We cross the street and walk straight downhill on the paved street (marking X). The street then becomes a field path.

Shortly before reaching the valley floor with the Waldbrölbach, we turn left onto a forest path running along the valley. (Shortly after a marking X). We follow this path until we reach a house and walk straight ahead following markings A6 and A2 to Burg Herrenstein. Anyone following the track can cut cross-country left a little.

At the castle, we follow marking A6 (lower path). Caution! After about 350m, we go up a small hollow path branching off at a sharp angle (opposite tree has marking A6) steeply uphill. The cart path joins another path where we continue left. Shortly after several paths meet here. We take the half-right path, which later rises slightly.

Caution: from here the recorded track is left as the path no longer exists.

This then soon meets a larger forest path, which we turn right onto. (From then on you can follow the track again.) Markings A6 and K soon reappear. Marking A6 takes us to Winterscheid. Before Winterscheid near a large cross, we can rest on benches from the climb. At the village outskirts we turn left into Herrnsteinstraße and follow the road. In town, we turn left into Pastoratstraße and walk left of the church to the main street.

On the main street, we turn right and take the footpath to Winterscheidermühle. The path starts immediately on the right-hand side of Hotel Krone.

The path leads us through Winterscheid and steeply down the hill back to our starting point. (Marking A9)