Steigerwald Circular Path

We start our circular route at the large parking lot at Schwanberg. Passing the café on the right and the beer garden on the left, we turn right behind the church onto the Celtic Adventure Trail. We follow this signage (also marked with i6, later with i5). At first, it goes quite straight past the park and along the Friedwald. The paved path becomes narrower and then unpaved. After rain, the trail can be muddy and slippery.

At the end of the Friedwald, the path bends slightly to the right and leads downhill to a hiking parking lot with rest facilities. We cross the KT 19 road and follow the i5 signage through the forest. Shortly after km 5, it turns sharp left, and after several hundred meters, we leave the forest and follow the path at the forest edge to a rest area (km 6).

Following the path, it goes back into the forest with a steep short climb up to the Schloßberg. In May, the path is lined on both sides with wild garlic. On the 407 m high Schloßberg, some remains of a castle can still be seen.

It then goes down again to a road. There the Celtic Trail turns right. We go left parallel to the road on a narrow path. However, the path can be very muddy. At the end of the forest, we switch to the paved path continuing towards Birklingen. At the KT 19, the i5 signage leaves us to the left. We cross the road and via the parking lot reach the Gasthof Augustiner am See with a very nice sun terrace.

Refreshed, we continue left past the small church and over the B286 slightly to the left onto a path that leads into a narrow overgrown trail. We follow the blue triangle signage (path from Rödelsee to Weingartsgreuth 56 km). It goes slightly uphill. At the end, we briefly come to a paved path, which quickly turns into a rutted muddy path. After about 100 m along the forest, we turn diagonally left into the forest again and climb back up to about 440 m. There the Blue Triangle turns left.

At the top, we continue straight down the wide forest path. The path now has no marking. Caution: At this point, the tour planner suggested several incorrect paths. Both the left turn and then at the hunter’s seat the path left by a small creek upwards and then sharp right no longer exist! We stay on the broad sunny path downhill along the Mordrundbach. Shortly before reaching the bottom, several paths branch off. After a right-left combination, we follow the path downhill to the bridge, cross it and then immediately go left up the wide path again.

At the forest edge, we meet a large oak tree. After another 100m, we turn left and follow the path. Here too, do not follow the tour planner through the Karnersholz, but stay on the broad path! After the forest, we now meet the C4 signage, which we follow for a short time. We stay on the path until the intersection and then walk a short distance right towards Wüstenfelden (refreshment option at the Zum Storch country inn, but not checked). At this corner, the tour planner wanted to lead me diagonally across the field. That path doesn’t exist!

We turn left again immediately onto a meadow path, leaving Wüstenfelden on the right. We reach the KT6 country road, walk about 50 m down to the right and then turn left again. We come to two small lakes and can rest at a sunny bench there.

Continuing behind the lake, we turn left along the forest. After a few hundred meters, a narrow path goes right into the forest. After about 200m, we reach a hiking parking lot. There we meet the Celtic Adventure Trail again.

According to the Outdooractive map, the adventure trail now runs right along the roadway to Castell. This is not the case!! It goes straight over the KT6 road towards Schloßberg/Mahrenberg. We follow this path and after a few meters turn right, following the Schloßberg signage. After circling the ruin, we go down slightly left to a place with a large (linden) tree and seating. Before following the sign "To the church" steeply down right, we make a short detour to the Mahrenberg. There we have a beautiful panoramic view and view of Castell. Several large chestnut trees are arranged in a circle on the mountain. There are also rest possibilities here.

From the church, the path continues down the village (several refreshment options; not tested) to the B286. The Celtic Trail should now follow the federal road to the town exit. Several signs indicate a path parallel to it. However, we first go a few meters right along the B286 at the intersection, then turn left and again left into Gartenstraße. At the end, we go left and immediately right on a field path. From here, we have another beautiful view of Castell with castle and church. We reach a field path, cross it and continue along the path parallel to the B286. At the next intersection, we go diagonally right onto a meadow path, at the end of which we meet several familiar trail markers again, including the Celtic Trail.

Now it goes right uphill towards the forest. We follow the K2 (Celtic Trail) and C3 (Kugelspielweg) signage. At the forest edge, the C1 goes left, the C3 steeply right uphill. Apparently this C3 is quite new, at least my GPS, which normally sticks faithfully to the route, "got lost" in the forest. According to the Outdooractive map, the path should have followed the C1.

Anyhow, we climb with the C3 until we reach a wide gravel forest path. We go right (signage Schwanberg 6 km) and follow this now for quite a distance. It is or should also be the Celtic Trail, although initially the K2 signage is missing. The i7 and later i6 signs accompany us for a while. But we stay on the wide path, which steadily climbs gently.

We come back to the Friedwald, which is initially on our left. Later the path leads us inside. After a left curve, it goes right further. After about 400 m, the wide path turns slightly left. Here we turn right onto a small path signed "Zypressensee." We come to the pavilion and now go straight through the park. At the end, we meet a meeting place, which we go down. Then left past the church towards the parking lot.

Those who start the hike early and do not take too much time can now end the hike in good weather in the beer garden with a beautiful view over the valley including sunset.