Fire and flame trail in Bergneustadt (Streifzug #11) - Naturpark Bergisches Land

The 12 km long "Feuer und Flamme Weg" shows that the people on the border between Oberberg and Sauerland not only tackled fire protection with great zeal.

Nice tour around Bergneustadt and Wiedenest. I'm not really keen on it, although the tour includes a lookout tower and a small historic old town. 🤷

Hiking in & around Bergneustadt one of the most popular activities for May 1st is hiking. The weather forecast is perfect 25 degrees and windy, but we don't want to lie on the beach, we want to discover nature: Up to 25 degrees, a mix of sun and clouds - that's fine. Hiking in Bergneustadt is definitely also something for the whole family. In any case, I couldn't have imagined a better place for May 1st with a toddler. Anyone who looks at the picturesque old town of Bergneustadt will hardly suspect that the town has fallen victim to devastating fires several times. Past the old town church, which was built in 1698 and is today the oldest building in Bergneustadt, you head out of the city. You hike up to the Knollen, which rises above the Rengsetal. Here, the 30m high observation tower on the Knollen invites you to climb up, which offers another view over the Oberbergische region. The tower is freely accessible around the clock and offers views in all directions. However, only to the southwest is there an unobstructed distant view to the Siebengebirge and the Eifel. In other directions, the higher mountains in the surrounding area largely prevent distant views. On the other hand, you get an impressive view of the alarming state of the forest in the region. From the tower, you have a good view of Bergneustadt and its districts as well as the Unnenberg. Evangelische Kreuzkirche For us, the most beautiful corner in Wiedenest. Very idyllic and also this beautiful Protestant church, the Kreuzkirche. Nearby there is a beautiful fountain where clear water emerges from the mountain. Delicious, no guarantee ;) The Spring of the Holy Cross – a place of silence, strength, and touch! Conclusion: Recommendable, but for us already challenging hike with 490 meters of altitude difference with a small child... Emanuel said thank you anyway ;)

So! After the weather conditions, upcoming premieres and a skiing vacation skillfully stopped me from hiking, today is finally the day. The 2024 hiking year opened shortly before the gates closed in January. And then with fire and flames. It would be an exaggeration to say that I would be the same after having completed the Bergisch foray of the same name. But he already impressed me. This is mainly because the F&F route is quite sporty. After a fairly arbitrary start, climbing the Beulberg demands a lot from you when it comes to gaining altitude, and the later path down also presents one or two charming hurdles that need to be overcome. Admittedly, the repeated trek through one or two residential areas is not one of the most special moments of the journey, but on the other side there are at least 7 interesting information boards about fire waiting for you and so you can look past the two dry spells with grace. Then in 2024 I'll be back and say see you soon.

It's a very steep climb at the beginning, but it's worth it. It's a nice tour :)

Very nice round with a good elevation gain🤩 Unfortunately, the name of the tour was also program today, the air was on fire 🔥🥵 and I actually had to let off some steam 😎😀

I don't think this path deserves any comment. Both thumbs down!!!!

Today we set out on the next Bergisches Land excursion, number 11 - the "Fire and Flames Trail" - which repeatedly focuses on the topic of fire and its fight. Above all, you can learn a lot about the history of the fire service on various information boards. As with all the other excursions, the route and signage are absolutely top-notch. It's impossible to get lost (except if you chatter too much and aren't paying attention 😉). The start and finish was Bergneustadt, which really surprised us, especially the old town center with its beautiful half-timbered houses and some venerable manor houses. The trail is actually marked counterclockwise. We did it the other way around. It's a matter of taste, but we prefer the tough climbs right at the beginning (when our energy is still fresh). Above all, they're so steep that we prefer going uphill rather than downhill.