Mountains by the river

At the station in Neckarsteinach, we turn right and walk along the Neckar until we have the opportunity to cross the river at the nearby lock. Behind the lock begins a forest path that initially goes left and then climbs in steep switchbacks to the picturesque village of Dilsberg (1). The small village with a historic center rises 180 m above the Neckar and offers a great view of the nearby Neckar loops and the surrounding area. Archaeological finds suggest that the mountain was already used by the Romans as a signal station because of its exposed location. The village of Dilsberg itself was first mentioned in a document in 908, and the once proud fortress of Dilsberg withstood many attacks during the Thirty Years' War. At the beginning of the 19th century, the castle was still used as a detention room for rebellious Heidelberg students, and it was slated for demolition, which fortunately was stopped. The ruins and the charming old fortress town with its narrow alleys are well worth the climb!
In Dilsberg we walk along the street "An der Stiege", which continues into Bannholzweg. At the end of the path there is a junction; here we turn left into the "Schänzel". The small street finally splits, and we take the left driving road into the forest. After a while in the shady forest, we reach a fork with a goat enclosure on the right side and turn left again into the forest. Now it goes downhill, and immediately after the forest clears, we can enjoy a beautiful view of the northern Mückenloch (2).
At the next junction, we briefly take the country road and then half left onto the field path toward the signposted riding arena. We stay on the path and cross the Sotten nature reserve until we reach the junction at the Stone Table (322 m above sea level). The shelter built here in 1851 (3) offers hikers a chance to take a break before the tour continues on the Middle High Beech Trail to the left beside the shelter. We meet a country road that we follow and shortly afterwards turn right toward Haager Mill into the forest. We follow the signposted H 1 through Haager Mill, then in a right curve along the edge of the forest until we turn left into Birkenweg. At the first houses, we turn left and immediately right again along the stream into the center of Haag to Heidelberger Straße. Further right into Kirchweg steeply uphill, past the romantic Haager hill church and the natural-style memorial, then left into Mannbachweg. After the right curve, we turn left and continue at the edge of the forest to the right. At the next opportunity, we go left and follow the H 1 until we cross the district road and later the country road. We turn right, leave the H 1, and walk parallel to the country road toward Schönbrunn. On Schwannheimer Straße we enter the village. We turn right onto the main street and follow it in the left curve, left into Rinnengässel, and further left onto Aueweg. At the small "Kircherl" (little church) in the village, we turn left and leave the village on Hainbuchenstraße. We take the second turn to the right and walk slightly downhill past fields into the already visible forest of Hirschhorn Mountain. The route meets a forest road, into which we turn left, then shortly afterwards go right downhill. We now walk over Hirschhornberg before turning left and immediately right onto the signposted Old Hirschhorn Trail. This path leads us directly to Hirschhorn, where we cross the Neckar on the lock. Already on the way there, we see the mighty Hirschhorn Castle (4), which towers on a rock above the river. The well-preserved castle complex was built in 1260 by Johann von Hirschhorn; the castle now houses a hotel. The tower and the courtyard are freely accessible and can be visited.

From the castle, we head south through the small village toward the signposted station to begin our return journey to Neckarsteinach.