On the Gäubahn

From the Lindenplatz in Schwegenheim, we go straight across into the small street "Am Jahnplatz" (signs to Kerweplatz/community center/fire department). After the fire station, we cross the Hainbach stream, go briefly right and immediately left along the Kerweplatz and a riding stable to the school grounds. Here we reach the old railway track, we go left on it out of the town, cross a main road, and follow the long straight through the fields towards Weingarten. The path is also popular as a bike path, so mutual consideration is advised.

Along the way, on the right side, there is a bench and a memorial stone for land consolidation. Weingarten is reached at a farmstead, shortly after which we turn right next to a vegetable logistics company and then continue straight again. Here it can get a bit hectic due to delivering tractors and departing trucks. We go through some intersections towards the wooded strip by the Kaltenbach stream in front of us until we reach it completely. Just before, we turn left onto a grass path leading to the old Gäubahn viaduct remains before the main road. It is now quite overgrown with plants.

We cross the Kaltenbach on the small bridge (sometimes no water) and immediately turn right onto a grass path that runs between the stream and another large farmstead. It continues along the edge of the field until we meet a crossing concrete path, which we now follow left. It passes several intersections; on our left, we see the small village of Freisbach. When the concrete path ends, we turn right on a small road and pass a house at the forest edge. Here we enter Lohwald forest, stay twice diagonally right on the main path, and arrive at a junction where the Lohwald Hut, a larger barbecue hut, stands on the left by the path. We go half-left past it and continue straight on the forest path. It leads us quite a way through Lohwald until shortly before reaching the main road, where on the right at a wooden railing we can make a short detour to Mehlsee. The shallow lake originated from sand mining, where groundwater pushed up from underneath. Numerous amphibians have settled here, but falling groundwater levels and increasing silting threaten the habitat.

From Mehlsee we return to the path and the nearby main road. We now have to follow this a bit to the left; its bridge is the only way to cross the Modenbach stream. Sometimes there are short parallel path sections; otherwise, one must walk in the grassy verge beside the road. We follow the road around the curve, over the stream, and the following field to the entrance of Waldhaus Gommersheim of the Palatinate Forest Club, where you can stop for refreshment. At the end of the parking lot, we even find hiking signs; we continue straight with white-blue stripes and a red cross through the forest. About 600 m later at a junction with a small bench, the red cross goes left, we continue right and cross a meadow on a narrow path.

On the opposite forest edge, we diagonally enter the forest again and at the following junction turn left. 200 m further, the remaining white-blue stripe turns right; we continue unmarked straight on the Freisbacher Weg. Through all intersections always straight, we reach the Wasserhaus, another PWV location (currently closed, tenants sought) and shortly after Harthausen, where we continue to the main road. At the main road, we turn right, pass the historic tobacco barn, continue until the main street bends. There, we turn right into Schönbrückstraße, which at its end bends left into Waldstraße. At the end, a path leads a few meters straight to the forest; behind the last house, we then turn right onto a footpath and cross the Hainbach again on a little bridge.

At the following forest path junction, we go left; the path now leads back through the forest to Schwegenheim. We reach the first houses, go diagonally left around two curves, and shortly after pass the Schwegenheim shooting range. At the cross street, briefly right, immediately left into the town. At Rottstraße, we turn right, pass the church, and cross Bahnhofstraße straight at the Thai massage practice. 30 m behind, we turn half-left into "Am Bahndamm" street (sign to Kerweplatz) and shortly after return to the school grounds where we were on the way out. We turn left again and go over Kerweplatz back on the familiar route to Lindenplatz.