Große Stein round from Zelking

From the municipal office in Zelking (directly under the church), first go to the federal road and follow it briefly to the bus stop at a small waiting shelter. Here you cross the Melk on a narrow bridge into the district called Gassen. From here, the path is well marked and signposted. First, go straight ahead, then turn left between two houses and you are already in the forest. After only a short climb, the first crossroads is reached. Pass the barrier on the right and follow the wide forestry road to gain altitude. After a ridge, just before the first ditch, turn sharply left (signposted) and then immediately swing back right. Now always follow the narrow path to a wide ridge where it first flattens and then briefly goes downhill on a forestry road. At the “Zöchbauer Reith,” turn left and always follow the wide forestry road, first slightly ascending, then flat, then descending again. Along the way you pass a very small hunting lodge and constantly have views to the south. Finally, the Pulverturm is reached – a parking lot right beside the road and an alternative starting point for the route. Now two-thirds of the way is done, and we turn left again to walk toward the Zelking castle ruin. First uphill toward Großer Stein and then downhill through clearings and forest to Rogelstein (Marterl). First on a wide forestry road, then on a narrow one, and finally on a path. After the Marterl, go down to a forestry road and follow it to just above the castle ruin. Now follow a hollow path directly to the ruin and nearly circle the ruin three-quarters of the way. Unfortunately, the ruin itself may not be entered due to the risk of collapse. Finally, a short path leads down back to the forestry road with the barrier, and from there through the lanes as at the start back to the starting point. The entire round is well marked and signposted.