WesterwaldSteig - 2nd tour from campsite to campsite

Description

The WesterwaldSteig trail takes me from Welter's campsite and leisure paradise at the Krombach dam to Seck. Along the moderately difficult route, I pass places steeped in history. For example, the witch tree, which is a reminder of the cruel time of witch hunts in the 16th and 17th centuries, or the Butterweck, a roundish rock that actually resembles a round bread roll. It stands in the geographical centre of the former Federal Republic of Germany before reunification. I take a break at the Drei-Kaiser-Eichen hikers' car park before continuing on the last section of my route to the Weiherhof camping park by the Großer Secker Weiher.

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. After the Fuchskaute roundabout, take the first exit towards Rennerod (B255)

Public transport

From Herborn railway station, take bus 520 to Rehe and from there it's a 30-minute walk to the campsite

www.bahn.de

Parking

Welter's Camping and Leisure Paradise, Campsite 1, 56479 Rehe

Directions

I start from Welter's camping and leisure paradise and follow the WesterwaldSteig initially on a path, then on a gravel path and finally on a natural path for about five kilometres, initially slightly uphill and after about one kilometre leisurely downhill. On the way, I pass the military area, cross the B54 shortly before the Alsberg barracks and follow a path to the tarmac road Am Löhnchen. After 200 metres, I have to decide whether to go straight into the town centre or follow the WesterwaldSteig to Hexenbaum, Butterweck and the Drei-Kaiser-Eichen. I choose the latter and take a look at the centre later.

After about 800 metres on the right around Rennerod, I reach the Gerhard sawmill and continue along the WesterwaldSteig trail to the sharp left. I cross the B255 and follow the silhouette of the town for about 1.5 kilometres to Friedhofsweg. Here I leave my path and take a look at the town centre. At the Hoher Westerwald Tourist Information Centre in Westeroher Straße, I stock up on brochures and maps for future tours. I return to the WesterwaldSteig trail and follow it for 1.7 kilometres to the Seitenstein natural monument, a 20-metre-high basalt formation in the middle of the forest. I walk slightly downhill for around 500 metres and then turn right. After about 2.6 kilometres, I discover the Secker Weiher ponds and a small hunting lodge. After the first ten-hectare pond, I turn left and enjoy the view of the lake from the Weiherhof Camping Park restaurant.

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 plenty of fluids 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 have to expect 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

Camping Park Weiherhof

Starting Point

Welters camping and leisure paradise, Krombach dam