Sauerland-Höhenflug: through the Orketal valley over the Rösberg to the Höhendorf village

The tour starts in Küstelberg in the center of the village at the bus stop Medebach, Küstelberg. First take the S30 express bus to Medebach and change at the market square to line 361 in the direction of Hallenberg. The Medebach, Medelon stop is located on Orkestraße (L 617). To reach the Sauerland-Höhenflug, follow Orkestraße a few meters in the direction of the town center and then turn left into "Dreislarer Straße". Here you will meet the Sauerland-Höhenflug, which leads along a small footpath along the Orke and through the center of Medelon. The stage begins in Medelon on Orkestraße near the parish church of St. Engelbert. From here, the Sauerland-Höhenflug leads through the picturesque Orketal valley, where the river meanders in numerous meanders and forms a natural habitat for rare animals and plants with its natural watercourse. The kingfisher and dipper, for example, can be found here. The Orke is crossed twice during the hike. The Orketal impresses with its extensive, open meadows, which are framed by forests to the left and right. With its flowering meadows, the Orketal is part of the Medebach Bay FFH area. Many rare butterflies can be found in the meadow valleys of the adjacent Bärbeck Valley. The Geologischer Aufschluss in the old quarry, which forms part of the Medebach-Hallenberg Geo-Experience Route, provides a glimpse into the history of the earth.After passing through the Orketal, the ascent begins out of the Medebach Bay and up into the Rothaargebirge mountains. In just three kilometers, the Sauerland-Höhenflug overcomes over 300 meters in altitude. During the ascent, you hike through the Glindfeld forest reserve, a large protected forest area with wonderful Buchenwald trees of different ages.On the Rösberg at 781 m above sea level, the highest point of this stage, the ascent is rewarded with a magnificent panoramic view over Elkeringhausen to the Kahler Asten and the Hunau Tower. The Stutzstein, which can be found near the vantage point, is reminiscent of the typical Sauerland "Schnadegänge", where you can learn about the borders in a sustainable and conscious way.The hiking trail now runs along the ridge to the hilltop village of Küstelberg, the highest village in Medebach. Just before the village is the source of the River Orke, the valley of which we walked through just a few kilometers ago. Küstelberg was first mentioned in 1177 and refers to the former monastery, which was moved to Glindfeld in 1298. Küstelberg is located on the old Heidenstraße and therefore quickly developed into a highly frequented place, only losing its importance with the construction of better roads and the railroad.Today, Küstelberg offers a wide range of tourist attractions with numerous hiking trails, a high ropes course, a Nordic walking center and a ski slope. The stage ends in the village center of Küstelberg. In addition to the bus stop and extensive information boards, there is also an impressive 500-year-old lime tree here, which is a kind of landmark of the village.The tour ends in Küstelberg in the center of the village at the bus stop and the hikers' parking lot on Winterberg Straße.