The Sauerland bike ring leads over Finnentrop, Lennestadt, Schmallenberg, Eslohe back to Finnentrop. This ring is followed by another smaller ring in the north. The northern section between Finnentrop and Schmallenberg runs on a former railway line. The southern half runs along the Lenne (Lenneroute). The main attraction and symbol is the 689 m long Bat tunnel. An approx. 40 kilometer long “Nordschleife” with the Wennetal cycle path, also on a disused railway line, and a section of the Ruhr valley cycle path complement the route to the north and a second tunnel near Finnentrop is also to come.
Route profile
- Length: 124 km
- Signposting: good and standard
- Slopes: High proportion of railway cycle paths (almost 50km) with a slight but steady gradient. In some cases considerable inclines due to ramps in the case of demolished bridges. Short climbs in Meschede and Schmallenberg.
- Path condition: Largely asphalted (99%?).
- Traffic load: In the Lennetal (over 40 km), in the Ruhr valley and southwest of the Hennesees next to federal roads, approx. 8 km on busy country roads, otherwise traffic-free
- Suitable bike: 3-speed bicycle
- Family suitability: Given between Finnentrop, Bremke and Wennemen.
- Inline suitability: on the railway line sections and probably also on the Hennesee.
background
The rounds are in Hochsauerland turned
preparation
Everyone should plan individually which sections they want to cycle. There are:
- the small round (via Wennemen) with approx. 44 km
- the big round (old ring with tunnels) with approx. 82 km
- an even bigger round (ring with Wennemen, but without Bremke - Eslohe) with approx. 122 km
- the very big eight (Bremke - Eslohe double) with almost 128 km
- only the railway lines (Finnentrop - Schmallenberg via Eslohe) approx. 41 km (and back!)
The direction is not given either.
getting there
Good starting points are:
- Finnentrop (train station)
- Meschede (train station and motorway exit)
- Wennemen (motorway exit)
- Freienohl (train stop)
- Altenhundem (train station)
Public transportation
Freienohl and Meschede are train stops on the Ruhr section Winterberg - Dortmund.
Altenhundem and Finnentrop are train stops of the Ruhr-Sieg-Bahn Siegen - Hagen.
By bicycle
Arrival via the Ruhr valley cycle path and the Lenneroute possible.
In the street
Route description with sights
The route selected is the longest stretch and an eight. Each stage ends in a city.
Finnentrop - Schmallenberg: 38 km
In the Lenne valley and the B 236.
- Finnentrop
- Lennestadt-Altenhundem - a larger place with refreshment stops. You can also cycle to Kirchhundem, where another railway cycle path leads to Würdinghausen (currently under construction [01-2013]).
- Lenne
- Schmallenberg - a medium-sized town with refreshments.
Schmallenberg - Meschede: 43 km
On the trail of the old steam steeds.
- Schmallenberg - Despite the railway line, it goes uphill towards Bremke. After the summit you can roll slowly for many kilometers.
- Bremke
- Eslohe - This is where the cycle path begins in the Wenne valley, which flows into the Ruhr and flows into it in Wennemen. This section is perhaps the best in the whole ring, as the railway line is used quite consistently and without ramps and crossings. There is also no noisy road next to the bike path. Just before the estuary a bridge over the river after
- Wennemen - offers one of several parking spaces that have been created for ring cyclists. Next to a busy state road (bike path on the route of the road) it goes to
- Meschede
Meschede - Finnentrop approx. 45 km
In the Hennetal with the dammed hen. Unfortunately also in the valley of the B 55.
- Meschede - here it goes uphill to the dam of the Hennesees. The subsequent stretch on the east bank is scenic and excellently paved.
- Non-housing - from here first up, then next to the B 55.
- Bremke
- Eslohe - Approx. 6 km behind the village comes the highlight of the route: the 689 m long Kückelheim tunnel, also known as the bat tunnel. The tunnel is cool and very humid even in summer. Expect to get wet.
- Serkendorf - In this area the path offers a beautiful panorama.
- Lenhausen - in front of the place it goes on the country road. The very extreme location in the ring is to be bypassed once by opening the Lenhausen tunnel. Unfortunately, the plans to build a new tunnel have so far failed.
- Finnentrop
Other places to stay
particularities
The bats sleep in winter and should not be disturbed. Therefore, the tunnel is closed in winter (November to April). A diversion has been set up.
trips
- Ruhr valley cycle path
- Ruhr-Sieg cycle path - Further railway lines are used as far as Kirchen an der Sieg.
References to literature and maps
Bicycle map_SauerlandRadring.pdf
