Quality tour: Krenkeltal and Goldener Zapfen - ridge walk between the Rhine and Weser rivers

The circular route starts at the "Stauweiher Heinsberg" parking lot south of Heinsberg. (From the center of Heinsberg, we can easily reach the starting point via hiking trail A3 in the direction of "Aquädukt" or the "Stauweiher Heinsberg" hiking parking lot).Just under 100 m along the road towards Heinsberg, the circular trail marked with a white circle on a black background leads sharply to the right past fish ponds into the beautiful Krenkeltal valley. After 2 km, it is worth taking the steep detour to the right to the aqueduct, a stream crossing over an old railroad line. You return to the main path, which turns sharp left after a few hundred meters and leads up to the Rothaar ridge as a steep climb that requires good fitness. At the top, turn left onto the Rothaarsteig. Continue to the Dreiherrenstein with a rest area and hut, then through Buchenwald to the Elberndorfer Bach stream and from there to the Oberndorfer Höhe hiking parking lot. Here, the "Rothaarhütte" offers a cozy place to stop for a bite to eat (open at weekends and on public holidays; please call tel.0151 15259746) Other highlights include the view from the "Goldener Zapfen". From the "Grüner Platz", turn right downhill back towards Heinsberg and the "Stauweiher Heinsberg" parking lot.