Möhnetal - Möhne Valley between Brilon and Rüthen

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6.76 km long

Difficulty: easy

condition: very easy

Great panorama

Cycling

00:30 h
16 m
44 m
322 m
363 m
41 m
6.76 km
Start: Car park on the B 516 just before the turn-off to Scharfenberg
Destination: East of Rüthen

Wet meadows, Willow and Alder forests border the upper reaches of the River Möhne. In recent years, many parts of the River Möhne and its floodplain were restored.

Last century the River Möhne was straightened, its course was moved to the edge of the valley and the floodplain was drained. Recently, sections of the upper and middle courses of the river were restored as part of a European nature conservation project. The upper section of the Möhne now presents itself as a near-natural river with gravel banks, deep scour holes, vertical riverside faces and the typical, meandering course. Kingfishers and Dippers are now at home here, and the rare Black Stork can sometimes be seen. In spring and summer the abundant flowers of Bistort, Meadowsweet and other plants attract a host of insects.

Best to visit

suitable

Depends on weather

Directions

The Möhne Valley is best explored by bicycle. From the described car park the well-constructed Möhnetalradweg takes you approximately 25 kilometres through the entire Möhne Valley up to Lake Möhne and offers beautiful views of the river and the surrounding floodplains.

In the area of Heidberg, about five kilometres upstream from Rüthen, there are two vantage points equipped with benches and information boards, inviting you both to rest and to enjoy the Möhne Valley.

At the car park there is a short but recommendable circular trail with a length of approximately two kilometres, from which you can see the results of many of the restoration measures implemented under the LIFE project.

Tour information

Stop at an Inn

Equipment

Bicycle

Directions & Parking facilities

Coming from Brilon, you reach the area via the B 516. Coming from from Warstein-Belecke, you should also take the B 516.

GPS (UTM): 32 U 468729, 5699487

Google coordinates: 51.445700, 8.549627

Arriving on the B 516 trunk road from the direction of Brilon, you will find a car park after the turn-off towards Scharfenberg. Along the trunk road there are more parking bays.

Additional information

Adjacent to the site described above, the FFH area "Möhne Middle Course" is located west of Rüthen. That area is also well served by the cycle track "Möhnetalradweg". Here you can experience more restored sections of the Möhne river.

Brilon and Rüthen, two attractive towns with partly medieval town centres are located in the immediate vicinity.

If you are planning a longer bicycle tour, Lake Möhne, about 25 kilometres away, is a destination offering a variety of leisure activities.

Author

Natalia Jaworski

Organization

Arbeitsgemeinschaft Biologischer Umweltschutz im Kreis Soest e.V

Website

Tours