WesterwaldSteig - 1st tour from campsite to campsite

Description

The starting point of my hike from Heisterberger Weiher to Krombachtalsperre is the campsite by the lake, which is open all year round. After a refreshing swim, I hike through nature reserves such as the Bermershube near Heisterberg to the Fuchskaute. The route is moderately difficult with an ascent of 271 metres and I am equipped with sturdy shoes and appropriate clothing. From the Fuchskaute downhill it is 206 metres in altitude. Shortly before my destination, I visit the town hall in Rehe. The former prayer and school house is a gem with a beautifully carved baroque pulpit. Outside Rehe, I can already see the Krombach dam, where waterfowl and migratory birds feel safe in the nature reserve. This is my destination, Welter's camping and leisure paradise, surrounded by dense deciduous and fir forests and away from any through traffic.

Approach

Coming from the north or east: Take the A45 motorway to exit 26-Herborn-West and from there take the B255 towards Rennerod/Bad Marienberg/Driedorf

Coming from the south: Take the A3 motorway to the Montabaur exit and from there take the B255 towards Rennerod/Siegen

Coming from the west: From the A560, change to the B8 and shortly before Altenkirchen take the B256 towards Gummersbach/Herborn/Siegen/Hachenburg/Bad Marienberg and continue on the B414

Public transport

Unfortunately, there are no direct public transport connections from places with rail links.

Parking

Free car park at the Heisterberger Weiher campsite, Am Weiher 3, 35759 Driedorf

Directions

The Heisterberger Weiher is a popular place, especially in summer, for people who have come for a swim or to hire a boat for a trip across the water. From the modern campsite, which is open all year round and has disabled-friendly sanitary facilities, a children's playground, volleyball court, kiosk and restaurant, I set off on a hike along the WesterwaldSteig trail to Welters Camping und Freizeitparadies an der Krombachtalsperre.

The WesterwaldSteig leads me along the opposite shore of the lake to the road to Heisterberg and after about 200 metres to the car park. There I change sides of the road and walk for almost two kilometres through the Bremershube nature reserve near Heisterberg, past flowering meadows. I then cross the L3391, which leads to Waldlaubach, and follow the gentle ascent parallel to the B414 until Waldlaubach can be seen on the right. After 1.4 kilometres on the nature trail, I cross the Aulbachstraße and after about 2.5 kilometres and a final stretch through the forest, I reach the highest elevation in the Westerwald, the Fuchskaute, at 656 metres.

The Fuchskaute is one of the favourite excursion destinations for Westerwald locals and their guests at any time of year. Sweeping views over pastureland and descents in the spruce forest accompany me and I can admire the Fuhrländer wind motorbikes for a while on my way down. After 300 metres of gravel path, I cross the B414 and continue for around 2.2 kilometres along natural and asphalt paths, past the Homberg until I reach the narrow path that leads me downhill to the Café im Grünen in the Westerwald Christian Guest Centre, where I take a short break. With renewed vigour, I turn right into the forest before the café and follow the Rehbach stream to Rehe. The path bypasses an industrial estate and I reach the stream again, passing the swimming pool. I then pass a playground and reach the town hall on Bergstraße. The half-timbered building from the 18th century is adorned with a colourful wooden door richly decorated with ornaments. I follow Bahnhofstraße for around 200 kilometres and turn left onto the WesterwaldSteig trail out of the village.

After crossing the meadow path, I reach the Krombach dam in about 300 metres, the south-eastern part of which belongs to Hesse. The northern part of the lake is designated as a 26-hectare nature reserve. Great crested grebes and coots breed here and the region is a favourite resting place for migratory birds. I walk along the lake on the right and after a kilometre I reach my destination, Welter's camping and leisure paradise, which can be reached via an access path.

Safety instructions

• Wear sturdy shoes and appropriate clothing that is suitable for the weather and protects you from the cold and wet or the heat and sun.
• Take enough liquid with you. Refreshment stops are not available everywhere.
• Please wear hiking boots suitable for the route, which will give you sufficient grip even on slippery and steep or rocky and uneven paths.
• If you are of the opinion that certain sections of the trail are not suitable for you, you should avoid them. Especially in adverse weather conditions, muddy and slippery passages can occur on near-natural paths.
• Particularly in autumn, you should also be aware that leaves lying on the ground can hide uneven surfaces, roots, stones or holes in the path. You must be prepared for this type of path impairment when you go on a hike.
• Although the path is very well marked throughout, you should always have a suitable hiking map with you for safety reasons.

Equipment

Hiking boots and clothing suitable for the weather are an advantage

Literature

Leporello hiking map WesterwaldSteig on a scale of 1:25,000 (order at

Destination

Welters camping and leisure paradise, Krombach dam

Starting Point

Campsite Heisterberger Weiher