Oedingen: Historical path Oedingen

Start at the parking lot at the Schützenhalle in Oedingen (S). Via Gladiolenstraße you quickly reach the B55, which you cross at the traffic lights. At the Rosenwege/Kastanienweg junction, follow the markings (white O on a black background) into Kastanienweg. A few steps later, the Lintloe fountain attracts your attention; one of the 15 plaques at historically interesting stations explains the associated legend. At the next crossroads, turn left onto Bracht Straße towards the end of the village. Follow the road uphill until you turn left onto the Way of the Cross into the forest. Climb steadily up the Oedingen mountain and don't miss the detour to the "St. John the Baptist" chapel (1) at the top. From the summit, you can look out over the Elspetal valley. Immediately before the houses of the settlement, the Historic Trail turns left onto a meadow path. It curves around the residential area, which you only touch briefly. A hollow path leads to the Kneipp facility (2), where a barbecue hut, a pond and benches invite you to take a break. Now follows a dreamy valley passage through a varied forest, where gurgling water provides relaxation. After a hairpin bend, you return to the busy Elspetal valley. Shortly before you reach the built-up area, a path branches off to the right up to the "Herrensitz" at the "Alte Burgruine" (3). After a short climb, you will find yourself in the middle of the forest on an inconspicuous hill. From the 13th to the 16th century, this was the home of the lower bailiffs of the Counts of Arnsberg. After this detour into the Middle Ages, the historic trail leads northwards on paved forest paths with often good views of the Elspetal valley. You master the descent to Elspe through an old windbreak area and cross the stream. Attention is then required when crossing the B55. On the other side, it is worth taking a detour to the right, as only 200m away at a rest area next to the road is the "Madonna of the Road" (4), as the little holy house is known today. Back at the signpost, follow the markings uphill. Immediately at the fence of the former Sauerland barracks, turn right and walk around a timber mill, which is now located on the site. A sign explains the barracks, which were active until 2002 (5). Then continue straight ahead on asphalt through open terrain. You pass the junction to "Haus Velbert" and climb the hill. There you turn right and walk through Wenden, then steeper through spruce forest to the Barrberg. Halfway up, you come to a forest path, which you follow to the right. You circle the mountain and enjoy beautiful views. The final descent to Oedingen begins at the sports field. Through spruce forest, you lose considerable height with a few changes of direction until you leave the forest behind you at the last station, the "Bespielbare Landschaft" (6). At the edge of the forest, turn left with a view of the Elspetal valley back to Oedingen, where this entertaining tour ends after 9.3 km at the Schützenhalle (S).