Walting - Altmühltal Nature Park

I've driven to many highlights in the Altmühl Valley in the past, but in terms of hiking, they were still blank spots in my biography, like the Roman fort and the medieval bridge in Pfünz. Since high temperatures were expected today and Hugo🌞 was supposed to be hitting the ground running, this tour was ideal, as it included a lot of forest walking..🌳🌲🌴 Lunchtime at the Roman fort, of course 😎 After that, after a gentle climb to Walting, the route continued through the forest. I also followed the direction of travel, so I was spared the steep climb at the Walting Mill..👍🤘 Conclusion: a beautiful tour with lots of nature and cultural monuments...⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tour template: https://www.bergfex.de/sommer/bayern/touren/wanderung/2885183,walting--schlaufe-15-des-altmuehltal-panoramaweges/

While the sun struggled to break through yesterday, today it shone in all its glory, and I once again set out on one of the loop trails in the Altmühl Valley. Starting from Walting, the trail first led along the Altmühl River and a small tributary before climbing out of the valley and onto the plateau. Soon, the path winds through a beautiful forest to the Mammoth Cave. Although it's closed, you can catch a glimpse through the grates of the lower entrance and even peer down into the grated collapse crater, at the bottom of which bones of mammoths, giant deer, and other animals have been found. I continued following the trail markers through the forest to Pfünz. The pretty village lay before me in the valley, with juniper slopes to the left and the Roman fort of Pfünz rising above to the right. The trail crossed another "Roman bridge," this time not built by the Romans, but dating from the Middle Ages, before climbing up to the fort. Also, the path leads across a bridge that looks like it was built by the Romans, but rather by the Middle Ages, before the ascent to the fort begins. . . . . . . ... . . . . . It's truly impressive what remains from Roman times still exist here, and the reconstructed gate and wall are particularly fascinating to see. Numerous information panels provide detailed information about the history and life in this place. The return route leads along the other side of the valley, first onto the open plateau and then mainly through beautiful, sunlit forest, before crossing the Altmühl River and continuing to Walting. A wonderful hike with exciting highlights in a beautiful area.

The first time I used Park4Night to find out about parking options in advance. With a length of almost 6.40 m, the 🍋 doesn't fit in every parking lot. Nice corner right on the Altmühl. When I arrived, there was a mobile home in addition to a horse trailer, the N8 had apparently spent there. It was not surprising that there was no open inn in Pfünz. Google didn't know that the "open daily" in Walting had been closed for a long time. Well, it's only a little over half an hour home. A very varied tour through beautiful countryside. Many forests, some of the paths were difficult to see. Apparently they are not used that intensively, the first part over a meadow I had to consult the navigation system. The signage for loop 15 is tolerable. At some crossings there is no indication, a little later the indication that you are still correct comes without a turn. But with Komoot that was no problem. It was time again for a tour in my beloved Altmühltal. Had worked on the van (=🍋) for the week up to and including yesterday.

After recently going on a short, stripped-down walk with my holiday visitor, today I wanted to do the full APW loop between Walting and Pfünz. The loop runs over the wooded slopes of the Altmühl valley on both sides of the Altmühl. I was hoping for beautiful views of the Altmühl valley and quiet, secluded forest areas, and I got both. The starting point was a car park on the Altmühl on the edge of the town of Walting. Through the Buchenhüller valley I quickly reached the first "historical" highlight, a mammoth cave, which is not accessible, but is beautifully hidden and somehow secluded. Around the Ägidibuck I continued through the forest down to the town of Pfünz with a view of the Roman fort Vetoniana. A detour up to the Pfünzer Kreuzberg to the beautifully restored fort complex and the lookout point of the Kreuzberg is always worthwhile. But not for me today. Also worth mentioning is the small, nicely designed leisure, play and paddling area at the Pfünzer Bach, with benches, right in the village center. After Pfünz, the long climb up to the plateau of the Osterberg really got me going. It was not to be the last climb. The last one cost me a few more grains and ended with a leaf-covered, steep, curveless and muddy downhill direct route on the Pollensteig. Almost at the bottom, more gliding than striding, the Luderleite rewarded me with a beautiful view over Walting and into the Altmühltal. Conclusion: as expected, this ATP loop did not disappoint me. It was beautiful, mostly shady premium hiking on varied paths with beautiful views and a few exciting, very natural sections.

05/14/23 - day of hiking! It's supposed to be a special tour...hmm, we've never been on the loop 15...why?! Check out this collection at komoot - I think you might like it. "Loop paths on the Altmühltaler Panoramaweg" https://www.komoot.de/collection/1782868/-schlaufenwege-am-altmuehltaler-panoramaweg Let's go to Walting, where I read Affental (ah, well known) and Wildscheinsteig....hoioioi...that sounds kind of steep. When entering we see that this path is currently closed and we can "boat around" discreetly. We visit the well-known mammoth cave. It turns out to be a glorious forest hike. It goes down steeply to Pfünz (we see a flock of sheep) to climb up again on the opposite side of the valley. I'm slowly remembering why we've never walked this loop before......oh my goodness!! Arrived at the top of the Osterberg we enjoy the wonderful view. In between, I take a quick look at the tour to find out... that was only half, it's not that far as the crow flies and I can guess a lot. The tour continues...I would say...up - to then go down again, oh yes, I mentioned up again to go totally down and at the end of the absolute increase in dense beech forest. We are so high up...there is nothing more...the forest is so dense and many small beech paths cross each other. The forest is "signposted" here, probably because it is pretty easy to get lost here without a route. Finally we go down a super steep beech path and I realize that my knees hurt today. This tour was woody and wonderfully green, but often very steep. We miss the Wildscheinsteig and the Castell (we left that out).