WesterwaldSteig 10th stage Limbach - Marienthal Monastery (East-West)

Description

Old stone bridges and wooden walkways repeatedly lead you over the water and pictorially shape the landscape. From Limbach, the hike leads you to the roofing slate mine Assberg, where you descend deep into the earth. Shortly thereafter, you experience a fabulous view over the gentle hills of the Kroppacher Schweiz at the viewpoint Hohe Ley. Near Heimborn, you reach a particularly beautiful spot with the "German Corner of the Westerwald," where the Kleine and Große Nister merge. After a relaxed stay, it becomes more demanding with the Nature Trail Weltende, which leads you with an alpine route over narrow paths (please observe the respective safety instructions!). Towards the end of the stage, you enjoy the distant view over the stunningly beautiful landscape from the Sonnenberg viewpoint.

Approach

From Hachenburg (southeast): via the B414 to the ramp to Betzdorf/Nister and further on L288 to the Limbach exit

From Altenkirchen (southwest): via the B414 to the Gebhardshain/Limbach/Mörsbach/Heimborn exit and further on the L265 to the Limbach exit

From Betzdorf (northeast): via the L288 to the Limbach exit

From Wissen (northwest): via the L289 or L265 to the Limbach exit

Public transport

Arrival by public transport

By train to Hachenburg and then by bus line 410 on to Limbach (a few connections from Monday to Friday only)

www.bahn.de

www.vrminfo.de

Return to the stage start

Between Limbach and Marienthal Monastery there is unfortunately no bus connection, so the return journey by taxi is recommended.

Taxi companies:

Taxi Schmidt GbR, Hachenburg, Tel. 02662/6119

Taxi Uwe Bischoff, Wissen, Tel. 02742/1055

Taxi Uwe Bischoff, Altenkirchen, Tel. 02681/2222

Taxi Jung, Hamm/Sieg, Tel. 02682/8555

Passenger transport Schütz, Windeck Tel. 02682/966588

Here are hiking route tips with bus and train connections.

Parking

Limbach: House of the Guest (Hardtweg 3)

Marienthal Monastery: 57577 Seelbach near Hamm (Sieg), Am Kloster 13

Directions

Limbach leaves the WesterwaldSteig on a meadow path along the Kleine Nister towards Heunigs Cave Path (stream nature trail) to the viewpoint Hohe Ley. On the natural forest paths, you can fully enjoy the proverbial silence of the Westerwald. Here you can also visit a medieval roofing slate mine. A path then leads steeply downhill about 200 m to the Nister via irregular steps. Sure-footedness is required here. Always following the Nister, the route continues through Astert and Heuzert to Heimborn, one of the most beautiful spots in the Westerwald, where the Große and Kleine Nister meet, also called the "German Corner of the Westerwald." Here the two river valleys widen into a beautiful place that surely invites every hiker to rest. Both rivers spring from the High Westerwald and initially flow through a wide rolling high plateau before digging deep through the steep rock ridges of the Devonian slate mountains, giving the Kroppacher Schweiz landscape its special charm. The route continues over the Heimborn hiking parking lot and across meadows to Ehrlich, where there is a guesthouse at the Nister beach. Via the Spitze Ley with views of Steinwingert, you reach another highlight of the WesterwaldSteig, the Nature Trail Weltende. This trail crosses untouched low forest areas in romantic silence through one of the most beautiful parts of the Kroppacher Schweiz. The path's name comes from a donation. Wilhelm, Lord of Reichenstein, handed over the place Flögert to the Marienstatt Abbey in 1451. Since only one path led to it, it was popularly called "At the End of the World." Today, "Weltende" is an attractive hiking trail with genuine steep trail quality, where sure-footedness is a must (please observe the corresponding safety instructions!). For less experienced hikers, an alternative route via the Marien hiking trail is excellent. The route then continues more leisurely via Racksen and comfortably through the Altenkirchen state forest downhill to Marienthal Monastery.

Access routes (marking: green W on yellow background):

• From the Astert sports field to the Astert parking lot (approx. 0.4 km), to Müschenbach (approx. 2.1 km) and to the Hattert railway stop (approx. 3.2 km)
• From Heuzert to Kroppach (approx. 2.0 km) and to Ingelbach station (approx. 3.5 km)
• From the Weltende path to Wissen (approx. 11.2 km)
• From Marienthal Monastery to the station (approx. 0.5 km)

Safety instructions

If you think that certain sections of the path are impassable for you, you should bypass them. Especially in adverse weather conditions, natural paths can become muddy and slippery.

Special caution is advised behind the village of Ahlhausen. Here you reach the Nature Trail Weltende, which leads over steep, narrow slopes and has an alpine character with some climbing sections. This section requires sure-footedness and stamina, even from experienced hikers. If you do not trust this route, you can choose an easier alternative route. Just follow the yellow marking until after about 2.5 km, you reach the main path again at Sonnenberg.

Particularly in autumn, be aware that the leaves lying on the ground can hide unevenness, roots, stones, or holes in the path. You must expect such path impairments when hiking.

Although the path is very well marked throughout, for safety reasons you should always have a suitable hiking map with you or download the free app "Experience Rhineland-Palatinate" .

Equipment

Wear sturdy footwear and weather-appropriate, functional clothing that protects against cold and wet or heat and sun.

Take enough fluids with you. Not everywhere are there food and drink options available.

Please wear hiking shoes suitable for the path that provide sufficient support even on slippery and steep or rocky and uneven paths.

Tips

Discover the historic roofing slate mine "Assberg," which offers vivid insights into the arduous work of miners (free and open 24/7).

Literature

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

Order at www.westerwald-shop.info.

Destination

Marienthal Monastery

Starting Point

Limbach