Nordkette – 1000 Meter Elevation Circular Trail

The well-marked route starts at the Holz Pirner parking lot on Nürnberger Straße in Pommelsbrunn. In the village, we cross the B 14 heading northwest and ascend to the Naturfreundehaus. At the playground of the Naturfreundehaus, turn right steeply uphill and after 100 meters turn sharply left and continue above the talus slope. In the mountain forest, a lovely path leads to the Lichtenstein castle ruins, which at about 507 meters invites you to take a short break. Then continue north, past the Pleßelberg and up to the Leitenberg summit (617 meters). For the eager: a small detour up to the Kreuzbergfelsen is worth it. After the long forest section, it goes downhill along a forest clearing and across meadows towards Heuchlinger Straße. We cross the small road to Heuchling and at the distinctive spruce by the roadside turn uphill onto the path.

Along orchards and at the edge of the village Appelsberg, the route turns left back into the forest and up to the Hofberg summit (569 meters). Across the high plateau, it goes to the Zankelstein summit (547 meters). Certainly the highlight of the route: the detour to the viewing rock with wonderful views over the land. Then follows the steep, somewhat prolonged descent from Zankelstein down to Pommelsbrunn. Across Heuchlinger Straße and through the village center, continue to the B14 and cross it. From here, either return to the starting point (Holz Pirner) or through the railway underpass in Arzloher Straße to the S-Bahn station.