Remscheid - Gelpetal circular hiking trail

Today a purely men's group with Bernd and Jürgen. 2 short tours from the hiking book / birthday present from my wife: Mystical paths Bergisches Land. First by car to the small Clemenshammer hiking car park. Until 1929, the Clemenshammer settlement was divided into three parts. The Gelpe separated Cronenberg and Lüttringhausen, the Morsbach bordered the Remscheid side. First mentioned in 1580 on the Remscheid side - these were 3 residential buildings. Around 1900, excursion restaurants and a water slide were built here. The Ronsdorf Müngsten Railway had been steaming through the settlement since 1891. Then shut down in 1952. 1. Immediately on the left is the Steffenshammer, a historic Schleifenkotten. In 1746, today's blacksmith's hammer was built and the old one was replaced. Fully operational until 1928. Visits see link: https://museen.de/steffenshammer-remscheid.html Shortly through the Gelpetal, then right on narrow natural paths for about 1 km uphill. Above - in the village of Westen - a badger came towards us, which unfortunately quickly disappeared after it saw us. unfortunately no photo. Turn left before WEST, then right again, around the source of the Zillertaler Siefen, and down into the Saalbachtal. After 500 meters we change side of the stream, continue past small ponds, down into the Zillertal. Once at the bottom, turn right and immediately right again up onto a narrow nature path. This runs elevated next to the access road to the Zillertal. After 300 meters we leave the Gelpetal and go steeply up to the right to Im Saalscheid. Then turn left at the top and down to Saalscheider Siepen. There used to be grinding shops and hammers everywhere in Bergisch, along the streams. In the places where the buildings used to stand and where some remains still exist today, there are steles with a description of the buildings. I photographed some of them. 2. We follow the stream to the Käshammer. He is one of the Bergisch Three. It has stood here since 1607, was first a bone mill, and from 1829 a refining hammer - refining pig iron into stainless steel. End of the 19th century There was still a restaurant that operated until 2005. The cheese hammer can be visited - see link: https://www.naturparkbergischesland.de/poi/kaeshammer From here continue in the Hammer Valley. We follow the Gelpe down to the Zilletal restaurant. Here, take a short right and continue to follow the Gelpe on the lower path. After 400 meters turn left on the upper stream path, as the lower path, directly on the stream, was partially flooded. Another 800 meters and we are back at the parking lot at Clemenshammer. A short tour on very beautiful paths and sometimes challenging. The many information stories were very interesting. Now get in the car and walk 11 km to SG-Kohlührt to do the second tour in the book.