Mill Path

The parking lot at the village square Fürth (on 'Dorfstraße') is our starting point for the hiking trail 'Mill Path'. From the village square, we go left through 'Dorfstraße', which we follow up to the junction with 'Brückenstraße'. We change sides of the street and follow 'Brückenstraße' to the left towards the Oster. After a few meters, we cross the Oster over the so-called 'Roman Bridge', which probably dates back to 1550. After another 200 m we pass the Romanesque 'Old Tower', the remaining relic of a medieval church at this location. After about 100 m, we meet on the right side the street 'Zur Ring' and turn right into it.

('Am Mühlengarten' street – further parking and entry option on the left side)

We initially follow the course of Ringstraße, going uphill past the cemetery. After about 300 m, we turn left onto a forest path, which we continue to follow. On a small hill, we keep slightly left and go downhill again. After about 400 m, we reach a larger turn and keep sharply left, continuing downhill. About 150 m further, we pass a small framed spring on the right. Another 200 m downhill, we leave this path again via a small steep spur to the right and meet the Oster. We now follow the path along the course of the Oster.

We initially follow the course of Ringstraße, going uphill past the cemetery. After about 300 m, we turn left onto a forest path, which we continue to follow. On a small hill, we keep slightly left and go downhill again. After about 400 m, we reach a larger turn and keep sharply left, continuing downhill. About 150 m further, we pass a small framed spring on the right. Another 200 m downhill, we leave this path again via a small steep spur to the right and meet the Oster. We now follow the path along the course of the Oster.

The path later becomes a wider path and slowly rises. Shortly after a path junction, we meet the Steinbach and descend the steep ravine to the left (sensation bench with views of the stream cascades). We cross the Steinbach by stepping stones and continue along the winding, hillside-parallel path. The path partially becomes a mill race and we soon reach, always walking parallel to the Oster, the intersection with the bridge at the Hanau Mill.

('Hanau Mill' = further parking and entry option)

Following the roadside shoulder on the left, we walk to the bridge over the Oster and cross the street (L121, caution!) towards residential buildings. We then continue to the right and follow the path past the Münchwies sewage treatment plant.

Here we meet the Lautenbach, also called Schönbach in this area, and follow a narrow path on the left side directly parallel to the stream, against the flow direction. A short climb brings us briefly back to the main path running further above (by the way the hiking detour in case of flooding!) and we go a short distance further before descending again to the stream. Over a small wooden bridge crossing a small brook, we finally reach the Eberts spring with a shelter.

We keep left, cross the Lautenbach over a wooden bridge and then continue to the right along a former irrigation ditch, continuing against the flow direction along the stream course. After about 500 m, in front of a wooden bridge, we leave this path and climb a short, steep path to the left up the slope. At the top, we continue further right and continue, now somewhat higher, to follow the stream course. The path gradually leaves the Lautenbach to the left and we reach the street (L116).

 We cross the street (caution!), take the short climb through the slope, and then walk on the wide forest path to the right. We soon leave this path again by following the right, less conspicuous path along the forest edge before the climb.

Near the end of the path, we turn sharply left and immediately at the next junction turn right uphill again. We stay on this path for about 300 m and then leave it to the left over a historic bridle path (with cobblestone paving). Straight ahead it goes downhill to the forest edge, here we keep left and continue downhill parallel to the forest edge. We meet a path, keep right, walk past meadows and after about 300 m reach an asphalt path. We follow this path to the right and walk about 100 m through a short forest section with gravel surface.

Near the end of the forest section, we have a view of Fürth, then follow the asphalted field path straight ahead and enter the village of Fürth via the street 'Zum Altwoog'. After a few meters, we turn left into the street 'Auf der Steige' and continue for about 300 m, then turn left downhill into 'Engelstraße' to the village square.