Along the river

Due to my mom's special needs I haven't had a lot of free time lately but I still managed to get out for a hike in order to get my head cleared.

The trailhead starts in Leichlingen, a small town on the countryside between Cologne and Dusseldorf. I used to live and work here for around six years before venturing out to Canada.

Leichlingen

Not much has changed here, traffic management is a bit different (more roundabouts), there is a new footbridge over the river Wupper, a few new houses and the place where I used to work is now in private hands.

Eicherhof, my former workplace

Today the trail will lead me along the river, and over the hills. The weather could be better, but hey, it's typical winter weather in Germany with rain and temperatures around 3°C.

View on Leichlingen

River Wupper

The saturated wet ground made for a slippery and muddy hike. I came along "Haus Fähr", in summer a popular beer garden on the riverbanks. The same goes for the "Wupperhof". Both timber frame houses had been inns and ferry stations before bridges over the river were built.

Haus Fähr

Wupperhof

As I walk towards the Sengbach reservoir, the ever so present drizzle turned into rain and hail. The dam had been built in 1903 and is one of the oldest reservoirs in Germany.

Sengbach réservoir

A few clicks later I arrive at Burg, yet another - typical for the region - timber frame village with a castle on top. Due to weather conditions and dwindling light I pressed on and arrived at the train station just in time for my ride home.

Burg with castle on top

Unterburg

Wishing you a festive season!

Timberframe and Metalframe

The train was on time for a change, but lost valuable minutes during travel which made me miss the bus. Anyway, after arriving half an hour late at the trail head, I was back on trail. It was cold but the ground was already transitioning from hard to muddy.

My trek lead me through villages with nicely restored timber frame and slate cladded buildings. Here: Gräfrath

Not sure about his lighthouse, there is no ocean nearby.

I really enjoyed the sun although its warmth thawed up the trail.

Still frosty in the shadows and nearby creeks and rivers.

The cities are nearby but again, the trail uses nature corridors in order to avoid encountering traffic and people, and the usual hustle and bustle that comes along with it. In previous centuries the region was dominated by the metal industry, and famous for production of high quality blades, cutlery and tools. 

Definitely the highlight of this section was the landmark Müngstener Bridge, a remarkable railway bridge spanning the river Wupper between the towns of Solingen and Remscheid. It holds the distinction of being the highest railway bridge in Germany, standing at a height of 107 meters (351 feet) above the river below. The steel arch bridge spans over a total length of 512 meters (1680 feet)  and is supported by stone pillars. At time of construction it was one of its kind as metal frame structures were still relatively new in bridge construction. An impressive feat of engineering and symbol of the industrial heritage of the region.

Arrival at train station Solingen-Schaberg.

And yet another section under my belt! Weather permitting I might hit the 2,000 km mark this year which would be a new record in my hiking career.

Industry and history

 

This region was shaped by mining for hard coal above and underground. The hill in the background is artificial, built from mining waste. But nearly unfazed by this lies in the valley the historic village of Schöller with its castle, an old mill and a church from the 12th century.

Schöller mill

Castle Schöller

Protestant church in Schöller

River Düssel

Silent dialogue

A former mine pit, now nature reserve

Next to the former mine pit one finds the village of Gruiten, with one thousand years of history. Tourists especially appreciate the old town core with its timber frame buildings.

Village of Gruiten