Sonntag, 14. Juni 2015

Ruhr-river bike trail

The bicycle trail along the Ruhr River from Winterberg to Muelheim has a total length of about 217 km. It is very pleasant and diversified. Along the trail there are wonderful towns with traditional  timber frame structures, inviting restaurants and attractive beer gardens. The bike path follows the river through the mountainous countryside of the "Hochsauerland". The first stretch runs mostly across quiet forest and farm roads or along lanes just built for cyclists.

In the popular winter sports resort of Winterberg we start our tour and cycle somewhat uphill to the source of the river Ruhr. From there we continue our ride to the restaurant "Ruhrquellenhuette".  Then we bike on to two of the most beautiful villages of Germany: Assinghausen and Olsberg.  From there we go to Meschede (so coverig a day distance of about 41 km). The next day at we head for the worth seeing county town Arnsberg (about 25 km) where we enjoy seeing the historic old town quarter. Afterwards we cycle  via Neheim to Wickede. From there we continue our trip via the "Zabel-Route" to Froendenberg (day distance 61 km). Here we reach the southern Ruhr-district, where the trail takes us along the river Ruhr through meadows and park areas, then it leads us to some lakes that have been constructed with dams and serve as water reservoirs: Lake Hengstey, Lake Harkort, Lake Kemnade and Lake Baldeney. Soon we reach the Westphalian hanseatic town of Schwerte with its well worth seeing old town quarter and its lovingly attended and preserved half timbered houses (about 19 km). From there we bike on along the barrier lakes to the beautiful city of Hattingen (day distance 65 km). The following day we do Heisingen, where we meet Lake Baldeney (ca. 22 km). And finally we cycle  to Muelheim (day distance about 50 km).


http://foldingbike-brompton.blogspot.de/2013/08/winterberg-where-ruhrtalweg-begins-and.html





Head of the Ruhr river at Winterberg


Blooming broom bushes
Not on Easter Island but in Sauerland



Glider airfield next to the bike trail
Arnsberg, Probsteikirche
Auferstehungskirche, Architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel 
Bell tower, landmark of Arnsberg
"Altes Backhaus" with nice beer garden

Moehne river ending in the Ruhr river
Hanseatic town of Schwerte

Barrage of  Lake Hengstey


Coot family on the water construction site
What am I: river rat, beaver or otter? (muskrat)
Bike ferry "Hardenstein"

Beer garden next to sluice of Herbede

Town house in Hattingen
Hattingen, Flatironbuilding
Hattingen, houses with slated facades
Decoration on a slated facade

Guardian angel on a front door of a town house

Hattingen, half-timber houses next to St. Georgskirche
Hattingen, Hotel "Westfaelischer Hof"
Hattingen, St. Georgs Kirche
Church tower not quite straight

Werden, Papermill sluice

Pit-head frame 
Lake Baldeney with Krupp Villa Huegel

Beer garden "Franky's Terrasse" at the Wasserbahnhof in Muelheim

Historic water tower at Muelheim, Ruhr


Water museum in the old water tower