On miners' paths

Passing by the Wielandshof, the route leads with an open view to the edge of the forest. After just 500 m, the Ratzenscheid Mine offers a first highlight. We walk past the mining site and, on our hike to the Kettner quarry, pass the Black Chimney and the Jacobssegen Mine. Wonderful mixed forest accompanies us, passing old, often hidden tunnel entrances, like the Gestellstein Tunnel. After nearly 6 km, we reach the Marie Mine. A few meters behind, we cross the B54 and turn right to walk along forest paths along the border to the Rothaarsteig, where a wonderful view over the heights of Siegerland opens up. After nearly 300 m, we leave this again and descend to the Briedoffelsloch, an old tunnel entrance. On soft forest paths along the Weißbach, we pass the White Spring and ascend to the L904, which can be crossed without difficulty. After a total of 11.8 km, we pass the Goldsmith’s Spring fountain. Now we leave the forest at the hiking parking lot next to the extensive nature reserve of the New Hope Mine. Along a meadow towards the Heckebach valley, we reach the hidden entrance of the Fortuna Mine. We leave the valley and return to our starting point.