Sauerland-Höhenflug: On paths from the castle up to the Hegenscheid

The tour starts in Ihmert, at the bus stop Hemer, Am Heistück. From here, the bus line R33 takes you every hour in the direction of Altena to the bus stop Altena (Westf.), ZOB. From here, a black-marked access path leads up to the castle. Alternatively, you can get off at the Burgweg stop on the L698 below the castle. However, you should not skip a visit to the castle and the castle elevator!The Sauerland-Höhenflug begins at Burg Altena, which towers high above the town and was built around 900 years ago. At that time, the brothers Adolf and Everhard built the castle on the spur of the Klusenberg. In 1912, Richard Schirrmann set up the first youth hostel in the castle. This first world youth hostel can be visited just like Altena Castle itself.The Sauerland-Höhenflug begins directly at Altena Castle at the entrance portals in front of the mighty castle walls. The trail first leads through narrow alleyways down into a side valley (please do not miss the steps between the houses above the road crossing of the L 698), before the hiking trail climbs again on the opposite side of the mountain. You can work up a sweat on the ascent to Altena - Hegenscheid! A seating area invites you to take a break halfway up. This section of the trail runs parallel to the Drahthandelsweg, which runs from Lüdenscheid to Iserlohn and features information boards about the history of iron mining and wire production. On the way, you will pass the "Toter Mann" ridge, which got its name from the depletion of the iron deposits there at the beginning of the 17th century. The ascent is rewarded with a fantastic view from the 473 m high Hegenscheid!The Hegenscheid airfield is home to the Hegenscheid air sports club, where motor planes up to 2 tons take off for a sightseeing flight in good weather. The high-altitude flight runs parallel to the airfield, always with magnificent views, then over the Rüssenberg (434 m) to the village of Ihmert and Elfenfohren, whose history dates back to 1813. Both on the Rüssenberg and on the ridge "Auf dem Giebel" above Dahle, hurricane Kyrill has created many open spaces, which, in addition to distant views, also open up a wonderful flowering splendour of St. John's wort, willowherb and foxglove, especially in the summer months.The Sauerland-Höhenflug runs along gardens at the entrance to Ihmert and meets the L 683 country road. At this point you leave the Sauerland-Höhenflug and turn left. Follow the L 683, which will automatically take you to the bus stop in Hemer, Am Heistück. This is where our short Sauerland-Höhenflug hike ends.