Hiking tip: Ettelsberg-Mühlenkopfschanze circular trail

You start the hike at the visitor center (tourist information). From here, walk 500 meters straight ahead above the Sauerland Stern Hotel (street "Vor den Weide") to the valley station of the Ettelsberg cable car. You only need one ticket for the ascent. And off you go comfortably in the panoramic cabin (no problem with baby carriages, walkers and dogs) to the top.If you want to make the whole thing a little more sporty or are afraid of heights, you can of course climb the mountain on foot. To do this, follow the road uphill towards the mountain inn "Zum Wilddieb" right at the start. At the top of the bend, take the serpentine path to the top. Allow about 45 minutes for this.You have now arrived at the mountain station. From here - of course only after you have enjoyed the view from the Hochheideturm - walk past the tower and mountain lake on the right. After approx. 400 meters you will reach the Kyrillpfad. A little further on you come to the Große Grube, a hiking area with seating and a shelter. From here, take the path to the left of the refuge in the direction of the Mühlenkopfschanze. After approx. 1.5 km, you will reach the inrun tower of the world's largest ski jump (admission: € 2.00 per person, lift). From the top, dare to have the same view as the best ski jumpers who demonstrate their skills there once a year at the World Cup ski jumping competition.Afterwards, you can either take the funicular down the 120 vertical meters into the valley and enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the facility or follow the path slightly downhill through the forest. After the prominent right-hand bend, turn left onto the forest nature trail (ATTENTION: not suitable for baby carriages), then follow the road "Am Tiasbusch" for a short distance. Now you only need to follow the W1 hiking trail: It leads you past the Ettelsberg farm and below the wildlife and leisure park back to the visitor center.If you would like to skip the forest nature trail, simply continue along the path, past the Romantikhotel Stryckhaus and down Mühlenkopfstraße until you reach the hiking trail to Willingen on the left opposite the "Forsthaus" restaurant. If you take the funicular down, keep left and you will also reach Mühlenkopfstraße, at the lowest point of which the hiking trail to Willingen begins. This leads idyllically for 2 km parallel to the Itterbach stream past the Strycksee lake to the Abenteuergolfplatz at the viaduct. Continue straight on into the town center with its restaurants and stores; a short distance to the left and then up to the right you reach the lagoon pool/visitor center again.