Eschachweg

We start in the town centre of Aichhalden by the town hall. Via Reißerweg, we leave the town and then pass left past the fish ponds in the "Reißer" area (rest opportunity with hut). At the Hub area on the edge of the forest, we go right; at Weiherwäldle we reach the Eschach. We keep right again and walk past the farms Büheln towards Bruckenwald, there right to Gifizenmoos. We cross the district road, go on the edge of the Aichhalden forest to the left and reach Heiligenbronn. The path leads directly across the monastery grounds. The impressive complex is worth a visit; the garden of the senses invites you to linger and reflect. The pilgrimage office of the Franciscan monastery also offers guided tours for groups. The pilgrimage shop offers the possibility to purchase souvenirs.

We leave Heiligenbronn, cross the L 419 and walk through the Heiligenbronn forest to Stegenweiher. In the forest, we briefly follow the road, then right and twice left. We cross the road and follow the Eschach to Seedorf and pass the cemetery into the town. Past the little bakery house, further along the Eschach, we reach the town outskirts and cross the district road. Through fields, it goes to the Seedorf pond, there left into the forest; then along the edge of the forest at Klettenhalmbühl to the left. We go under the bypass road (B 462) and reach the town centre of Dunningen along the Eschach over the residential area by church and town hall.

Here there are dining and accommodation options; by bus it is possible to return to Aichhalden (line 7478 to Sulgen, then line 7481 to the town hall Aichhalden, on weekends partly on-call bus, details at https://mein-move.de/fahrplan-auskunft/).

In Dunningen, the Teufenbach variant branches off from the main path.

The main path leads from Dunningen via Staudenstraße up to St. Christopher’s Chapel. Here offers a wonderful view of the Black Forest, Alb and the Gäu area. We cross the connection to the federal road, then keep right and walk a short stretch along the district road. We pass the fish pond, then follow the Eschach, go over the footbridge at Birnberg and left over the meadow. Then it goes left along the forest edge by the farms at Kehlenbühl and over Eschachbronner Straße into the town of Lackendorf.

On its further way to the mouth, the Eschach has carved itself a deeper, narrow valley with extremely charming landscapes from Lackendorf. We leave Lackendorf via Stettener Straße and Waldstraße and go left up the hill over the valley. There is a splendid view back to the town and the surrounding landscape to the edge of the Black Forest. Through the forest and then along the forest and field edge, we stay on the hill and reach the outskirts of Stetten via the Zierenwäldle. Below Kramer’s farm shop, we cross Hochwaldstraße and continue straight on the hill on field and grass paths. After about one kilometer, we cross district road (K 5539), continue opposite at the field cross and then keep half right; across Ebnet further in open landscape between fields. We reach the edge of the forest, over the "Hörnle" it goes downhill again into the valley and to the outskirts of Flözlingen. We meet the main road (Eschachstraße), go right, over the bridge and turn left at Hirschbräu; over the street "Im Winkel" it goes out of the town; past the cemetery. On the paved cycle and footpath it goes further, always following the Eschach in the valley, to Horgen.

In Horgen, the route variant via the Teufenbach valley meets the main route of the Eschachweg. At the mini-golf course, go left, then straight across the intersection at the district road (K 5547). In the hairpin bend, turn right uphill into Alte Hausener Straße, past the restaurant Linde-Post. Alte Hausener Straße becomes Grubenweg, we hike above the valley on grassy path out of the town. With slight ups and downs it goes further through the forest. We go under the motorway bridge; then half right and in hairpin bends on forest roads back down to the Eschach. It passes the Wildenstein castle ruins and Oberrotenstein castle ruins (only small remains left). It goes up again on open field, then right on the hill, and right again, along the forest edge back down into the valley. Over Kronwald we reach Eckhof (rest stop).

High above the Eschach it goes on a narrow path through the juniper heath (surefootedness needed!), then down again, we cross the driving path and hike further in the forest, through Lausenhärtle and again along the Eschach to the outskirts of Bühlingen. Over the Triebwerkskanal and the Fischersteig, we come into town and reach at the bridge the mouth of the Eschach into the Neckar and the end of our trail. Via the Neckar hiking trail, which runs partly parallel here, it is possible to reach the centre of Rottweil on foot. Otherwise, the city bus provides a connection (line 5001, also on weekends).

From Neue Post Rottweil, there are also bus connections to Dunningen or Aichhalden (line 7478 to Dunningen or further to Sulgen, then line 7481 to the town hall Aichhalden, on weekends partly on-call bus, details at https://mein-move.de/fahrplan-auskunft/).