Sauerland-Höhenflug: From the Quitmannsturm to the eerie Black Cross

The hike starts in Affeln. From the bus stop Neuenrade, Affeln , a minibus will take you to Neuenrade train station if you book in advance. Two access routes start from here. At the traffic circle, you can choose between the northern access route, which takes you past the Quitmannsturm to the Sauerland-Höhenflug, and the southern access route, which leads along the Waldstadion towards the Höhenflug. If you have chosen the northern access route, you will reach the Sauerland-Höhenflug at the Quotmannsturm. The 14-metre-high Quitmannsturm on the summit was built by the town of Neuenrade in 1986. The first observation tower on this site dated back to 1892 and was destroyed by a storm in 1986. Small panorama boards on the Quitmannsturm explain the landmarks of the magnificent 360° view.Passing the "Kohlberg" parking lot, the hiking trail now crosses the L 698. A little further on, there is a panorama board that informs hikers about important viewpoints. The Hönne rises on the southern slope. This flows through Balve and Menden. The Hönnetal is an impressive valley with rocks, cliffs and caves in one of the most important karst areas in Germany. A large copper stele at the source illustrates the course of the Hönne to hikers.Via winding paths, some of which run alongside the Hönne, you now reach Neuenrade, Wilhelmshöhe on the B 229. Just a few meters further on, another highlight awaits you: the rotating H. The Höhenflug logo was created here as a 3 x 3-metre wooden sculpture. Hikers can turn the H in different directions to take photos of the desired motif. The Höhenflug continues to Gersberg, where the second access route from Neuenrade meets the Höhenflug. The hiking trail continues along a forest adventure trail to the Hexentanzplatz, which is a reminder of the gruesome witch trials in the Middle Ages.The Sauerland-Höhenflug circles the Falkenlei, from where the view sweeps steeply down into the Lenne valley. Not far from the refuge at the Falkenlei, the hiking trail meets the Black Cross. Two gruesome stories surround this spot, which say that either an unfortunate cobbler's boy hanged himself here or that a poacher shot a hunting guard at this spot.The high-level trail leads below Affeln. Leave the Sauerland-Höhenflug at the Imberg parking lot and follow the road "Zum Imberg" to the center of Affeln. The hike ends at the Affeln bus stop on the main road.