Ulmerfeld: Forest Heath Theme Trail

The Forest Heath themed trail, opened in 2019 and marked, begins near the crossing Winthalstraße/Teichweg in Ulmerfeld-Hausmening.
There is a small trash collection point at the crossing.
We walk about 100 m southwards (uphill) on Teichweg.
Now turn left, immediately on the left is the first pond.
Along the path are interesting panels that encourage children as well as adults to reflect on various aspects of nature, the forest, the river, etc.
On the slope to the right, the effects of spruce monoculture are clearly visible.
After about 500 m we come to an open meadow.
Here is the second pond, a playground, and resting places.
Now the path leads left into the forest; I recommend a small extension:
Descend from behind the pond to the Ybbs riverbank and walk a few hundred meters upstream along the Ybbs.
An interesting but also sensitive habitat for specialists among our animals.
The gravel banks should not be entered as this is a habitat and breeding area for rare birds (e.g., the river sandpiper).
Now back to the left and up the slope at the edge of a meadow to the educational trail.
This continues upstream, past interesting panels, various prompts, and remarkable views.
Soon we come out of the forest. On the right, the cyclist bridge spans the Ybbs, behind it the old railway bridge.
We now follow the bike path, first along the railway, then turn left back into the forest and to our starting point.

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If we want to take the extended version (picture 33):

We park near the castle and church in Ulmerfeld.
We walk over the historic market square heading east to the end, then turn right onto Freisinger Straße.
Before reaching the ditch (= the road to Winklarn), we see the replica of the historic water tower on the left.
We walk 100 m left on the main street and then turn left into Quellenstraße.
At the end of Quellenstraße, turn right into Heidegartenstraße.
At the end of this street, we can go down steps to Teichweg.
Now turn left; after 150 m we reach the start of the marked Forest Heath themed trail.

We then follow the described heath path to the cyclist bridge over the Ybbs.

At the bridge, we do not turn left but cross the bridge, immediately left and follow the gravel road 800 m to the paved Erlenstraße.
Turn left here, just before the Ybbs turn right and go through Tannenstraße to Ybbs footbridge. We cross the Ybbs, keep right afterwards, and go on Josef-Hiebl-Straße to Schulstraße.
We walk Schulstraße to its end, then 100 m left on Schlossstraße. Now we can go up a footpath to the castle and are back at the starting point.