Waldschluchtenweg – Traumpfad

Really a "dream path". I can only recommend it. Only a small number of parking spaces at the starting point. Halfway through the route you can go Let yourself be pampered with culinary delights at the Bembermühle.

Today's hike on the dream path "Waldschluchtenweg" started at the Feisternachtbachtal car park, but not in the anti-clockwise direction as suggested in the description on the board and in the relevant booklets and brochures for this dream path. We did the tour clockwise because when we were planning the tour we saw that it would first be a rippling stream along the Hillscheider Bach in the truest sense of the word, but then after crossing the L 309 it would be a "murderous" climb up the mountain. We decided to turn the tour around and walk clockwise, which was the right decision for us at our age and with our fitness level. The path up to the Seehütte is always uphill, but very moderately. The serpentine climb to highlight no. 11, called "rest area above the path", which follows shortly afterwards, is also tough, but nothing compared to the climb if you were to do the tour the other way round. We were glad that we were able to make the descent after highlight no. 20, called "In the Cathedral Forest", with some surefootedness. We wouldn't have wanted to go up there. We agreed on that. After a final rest shortly before crossing the L 309, we were able to "run out" the rest of the path, a good 2.5 km. It was a beautiful hike/tour on a wonderful dream path that we would do again and again, but from our experience today, only in a clockwise direction.

... or, the incredible find 😯 But one after anonther. Well, since I'm not a permanent hiker, it doesn't have to be such an alpine climb or similar, so this one should fit 😀 There were various really great corners but unfortunately also really long and boring connecting paths, really steep terrain and a tragic incident ... or rather, a dead mole, but I took the time to properly kill him for this .... 😞 🙏 Yes, and there was the incredible find 😯 You won't believe it unless you experience it yourself. It's been a long time since I rode my e-bike here and took a break at this special bench. (That was the tour on which I was chased by the rain and later watered 😜) Today (as I did then) I took a bag of the nut mixture out of my backpack and saw a snippet lying on the floor... see photo... 😆 Unbelievable, that must have been from me back then (shame at this point that I had lost it 😳) Fits exactly to my favorite variety and the way I open it ☺️ Of course I took the chips with me, but you think that's it... what do you think of the thesis 😎

A great walk for dogs in this weather. Plenty of water and shady paths.

Not necessarily spectacular... but still a nice walk that mostly leads through forest. However, the condition of the forest is worrying. There is more information here: https://tourenportal.traumpfade.info/de/tour/wanderung/traumpfad-waldschluchtenweg/1395061/

The forest gorge trail has been on my itinerary a few times in the past. If I remember correctly, I've never hiked it in winter. I always find it exciting to hike familiar trails in different seasons.

Today the 5th of a total of 6 dream trails in the Rhine region followed, the forest gorge trail. Started as always in Koblenz, this time with bus number 8 from Zentralplatz towards Bendorf Sayn, getting off at Vallendar Kongresshalle and changing to number 437 towards Höhr-Grenzhausen, getting off at Vallendar Schönstatt. From there I walked the 1.8km access path to the hiking car park, past the Schönstatt pilgrimage site, where I was actually "allowed" to spend a school trip (you may not believe it, but I was at least at an episcopal high school for a while) and whose pilgrimage church is circular and reminds me more of a large Indian sweat lodge or a giant wigwam made of animal skins, inside of which pagan or at least non-Christian ceremonies take place. The sign attached, which says something about an "original sanctuary", is always converted by my brain to "unsanctuary". The hiking car park was still relatively empty and I finally started the dream path. I walked clockwise against the normal direction and quickly passed the honey sales box, where I then bought 2 jars of honey from a small local beekeeper. I like to buy things like that locally, even if they are in the higher price segment, instead of throwing my money at the big industrial companies. It would have made more sense to walk in the other direction, because that meant my backpack was noticeably heavier right at the start. It goes along a relatively wide, slightly gravelled path past the first covered rest area and immediately afterwards you come to a lake with a large shelter with a covered veranda. To the left of the hut is the path on the shore, which is actually closed. I skillfully ignored this and took a big step over the worn-out tape and the sign wrapped in cling film, which had already faded due to the weather, informing me of the closure. With the option in mind to turn back if the path was actually impassable. The number of fresh footprints in the mud told me that I wasn't the only one who had walked along there. The lake to the left looked in places so that I wouldn't have been surprised if Inferi had swum along under the water's surface or if something had appeared in the middle of the lake that was supposed to be hidden from prying eyes by being weighted down with stones. Of course, neither of these things happened and after some climbing over it and meandering on my knees under trees lying across the path, the path became more humane again and 5 minutes later I climbed over the next low-lying flutter tape and was back on the cleared part of the dream path. If it hadn't been possible, I would have simply walked past on the left side of the lake. Now it went up in a zigzag along narrow leafy paths and then became level again. A little further back and above the main path at a rest area, I saw a lively group of sprightly pensioners decorating a fir tree growing there with Christmas tree baubles. They do this every year, it is their tradition and as a big Christmas fan I naturally thought it was great and so we got chatting, which ended with me hanging a bauble on the tree too, photographing the whole group in front of the results of their work and finally trying their homemade cookies. I continued on my way and then took the usual paths rustling in the leaves down to the Bembermühle, which was already open for the lunch guests arriving by car. In the fenced pond I saw a single swan working on the fence with unremitting zeal as if it either wanted food or wanted to escape from the open enclosure. Oh buddy, I feel you. Sometimes you just have to take a step back to re-analyze the situation or change your perspective to find the solution. I left the swan with its daily task and left the mill grounds in the direction of the cathedral forest. It was uphill again until you reach a forest passage with very old, tall trees that stretch many meters high into the sky on the right and left of the path and between which you walk as if through the struts of a cathedral.

A very beautiful, dreamy trail, lots of forest, beautiful forest and nature trails, and virtually no asphalt. However, there was no view of the Moselle Valley, as stated by Kommot. A shame, but it didn't detract from the overall experience. At one point (the Rhine Heights Trail), there was a sign pointing to a hornet's nest. We couldn't find the nest, but that doesn't mean it wasn't there 😅. Shortly before arriving at the parking lot, we passed a honey box and took a jar. We'll try it soon 😊.