Extra tour "Mühlentour": Hosenfeld – Rhön

Overall, a very nice scenic tour without highlights. Easy to hike but long. A well signposted tour.

We started with the Rhönklub Neuhof at the Sieberzmühle hiking car park. First we went towards Kehrenhof and Hosenfeld. On the eastern outskirts of Hosenfeld, the tour then leads to the 417 m high Sieberzer Berg and on to the Geissbuche and the Altgehäg to the outskirts of Schletzenhausen in the Jossatal. With a view of Hainzell, it went over the Schlagberg through the forest to the Klein-Heilig-Kreuz country inn and on through the Wiesental of the Kalten Lüder, past the dilemma back towards Sieberzmühle. The weather was just right today. Since many paths led through the forest, it was very easy to walk.

Very suitable for summer - majority of the sections in the forest (shade) with little elevation gain.

Very nice hike, lots of panoramic views, varied, well signposted.

Extra tour - mill tour 🌳 Rhön 🌳 ------------------------------ Premium circular hiking trail ------------------------------ https://www.touren-rhoen.de/de/tour/wandern/extratour-muehlentour-hosenfeld-rhoen/39071945/#dmdtab=oax-tab1

Our first hike of this extra tour was almost exactly two years ago. Back then we started in Hosenfeld. The hike was over 22km long. This time we followed the specified route exactly. Our round begins and ends at the Kleinheiligkreuz car park near Kleinlüder. The weather wasn't quite as nice as on our first tour, but at this time of year everything is lush green. Nature grows and blooms luxuriantly. A feast for the eyes. This extra tour is wonderful to walk with its good paths, moderate gradients and very good signage. We didn't need the smartphone to navigate, just to take pictures. Apart from the three mills along the way, there is nothing really special to discover on the mill tour, but, as I said, you are currently walking in a total work of art of nature. And so the way is the goal.

Because I was told that the extra tour "Mill Tour" wasn't quite as great, I was initially excited to see what to expect on this hike. Now, in retrospect, I don't think it was so bad. Sure, the second half of the tour was more or less on wide forest paths through the forest. But the first part was all the more beautiful. I kept getting great views of the Rhön. And the mills, although they are now all inns or hotels, invite you to stop for a cozy break towards the end of the tour. Oh yes, if you're doing the tour on a hot day like I did, you should also go anti-clockwise. Early in the morning, on the open stretches, it's not that warm yet and later you're walking in the shade of the trees.

Today I'm taking you on a special tour of the "Rhön homeland" - the "Extratour Mühlentour", a premium circular hike in the eastern Vogelsberg that takes me almost 18 kilometers along the western foothills of the Gieseler Forest. On a cool autumn morning, I start at the Herrenmühle. The trail markings are perfect, you simply can't get lost - a real dream for anyone who likes to relax and travel without a map. Autumn has colored the leaves brightly, and with every step you take, they rustle under your feet. The sun comes out at midday, and suddenly the view towards the Rhön becomes clear and wide. The landscape glitters golden, and the colors of autumn shine in all their glory - a panorama that makes my hiking heart beat faster. The path leads through the Siebenbrunnental and Wiesental, past three historic mills that tell the story of this region. The Hessenmühle (I'm starting here because I'm spending a few days in this wonderful inn) dates back to the 18th century and once served not only as a mill but also as an inn. Today it is a popular starting point for day trippers and is a reminder of the region's lively economy in earlier times. We continue to the Zwickmühle and further on we reach the beautifully situated Sieberzmühle. Another point steeped in history is the Gaisbuche. This tree, which lived for over 300 years, used to mark a fork in the road. After it died, a new beech was planted, which continues to serve as a rest stop and reminds us of the historical significance of this place. The last few kilometers are on wide forest and forestry paths that are easy to walk on and do not require any special technical requirements. For me it was a perfect autumn day that offered everything that makes a good hike: exercise, nature and a bit of history.