- Family friendly
- Culturally interesting
- Refreshment stop
- Circular route
Hike to the waterfall
A beautiful 16 km circular tour to the highest waterfall in NRW. Hidden in a nature reserve and in the middle of the forest, you will find the highest natural waterfall in the Sauerland.
Tour starting point:
Landgasthof Rüppel, Valme 4, 59909 Bestwig or hiking parking lot Valmetal
Tour destination point:
Landgasthof Rüppel, Valme 4, 59909 Bestwig or hiking parking lot Valmetal
Properties:
Additional Information
Refreshment stops:
Landgasthof Rüppel
Valme 4
59909 Bestwig
Tel.02905 774
www.valme.de
Bäckerei Konditorei Café Hamich
Uferweg 4
59909 Bestwig Ramsbeck
Tel.: 02905-203
info@cafe-hamich.de
http://www.cafe-hamich.de
Further links:
www.sauerlaender-besucherbergwerk.de
Category
regionaler WanderwegLength
15.9 kmDuration
4:45 hElevation ascent
571 mElevation descent
570 mLowest point
403 mHighest point
638 mCondition
Difficulty
Recommended seasons
Hidden in the forest near Bestwig waterfall is the highest waterfall in the world. waterfall in North Rhine-Westphalia: the Plästerlegge.
The word "plästern" means "to rain" in Low German; "Leggen" are sloping rocks (= rain on sloping rock). The word indicates the reality: that the waterfall can only be admired in full "function" in very wet weather. After longer dry phases, the waterfall can fall dry. The water falls about 20 m almost vertically over a rock ledge and then flows about 500 m as a torrent. The water from the Plästerlegge flows into the Elpe, which flows into the Ruhr near Ostwig.
There is a seating area below the waterfall where you can take a break. There are also information boards about the flora in thePlästerlegge nature reserve.
The waterfall is located in a nature reserve. Please do not leave the paths!
One section of the hike runs along the Bestwig Panorama Trail, which offers wonderful views time and again. In addition to panoramic views, you will see traces of the past in the form of ore mining, slate mining and railroad history. Wayside shrines, wayside crosses, churches and chapels also provide a glimpse into the ecclesiastical past of the Catholic Sauerland. The well-kept villages are still dominated by the black and white contrast of the typical Sauerland half-timbered houses.
On the way back and having arrived above"Ramsbeck", it is worth taking a detour into the village. There you can stop off at Café Hamich and eat a slice of delicious cake. The Ramsbeck visitor mine is also not far away. Pay a visit to the museum and go on a journey of discovery into the bowels of the earth.
Information
Directions
From the Valmetal hiking parking lot, follow the signs"VA2". Walk over the small wooden bridge, then turn right along the Valme stream to Untervalme. Follow the signs VA6 + X10 to the next crossroads (in the Riese).From there, the path marked X10 leads to Heinrichsdorf. At the crossroads, turn right to Gasthof Ehls, then left to Wasserfall. In Wasserfall, follow the X16 / W4 along the Wasserfall campsite and continue to the W4/W3 junction.At the junction, turn right to Plästerlegge / Wasserfall. From the Pläster - Legge take the W4 uphill to Wasserfall, then the X16 to Ramsbeck (tennis court), cross the road above Ramsbeck and then follow the VA6 back to the hiking parking lot in Valme.
Equipment
Sturdy shoes, clothing suitable for the weather and possibly rucksack provisions
Safty guidelines
A rescue point system has been installed in the Hochsauerland district. Rescue points can be found on the information boards at junctions and on hiking signs.
Author Tip
Caution! After long dry spells, the waterfall may have little water and in summer the view is severely restricted by the vegetation around the waterfall. I recommend a hike in spring, late fall, winter (when the waterfall is frozen) or after several days of rain.
Literture
Hiking map of Bestwig 1:25,000
Maps
Hiking map of Bestwig 1:25,000
Public transiot
Take the train to Bestwig and the bus to the bus stop "Ramsbeck Werdern". From the bus stop it is approx. 1.9 km to the hiking parking lot. You can reach the hiking parking lot from the bus stop via a hiking trail.
Getting there
First take the A44 Dortmund/Kassel highway to the Arnsberg exit, then the A445 to Arnsberg and then the A46 to Bestwig. At the Bestwig exit, turn left to the center of Bestwig, then right towards Ramsbeck, approx. 7.5 kilometers. At the end of Ramsbeck, turn left towards Valme, approx. 2 kilometers.
For your journey with a navigation device, please enter the following:
59909 Bestwig, Valme 4, or Valmepochwerk
Parking
Valmetal hiking parking lot
Valme 4
59909 Bestwig
Valme 4
59909 Bestwig
