9 delicious routes through grape vines and fruit trees

Rheinhessen: Hiwwel tour Westerberg

On this circuit, everything revolves around indulgence – in terms of scenery, as well as cuisine. After all, the twelve-kilometre circular trail winds through Germany's largest wine-growing area, passing meadows scattered with fruit trees and little sections of woodland. Highlights of the hike include the impressive Westerhaus Castle – traditional wine-growing estate and stud farm on the Westerberg – along with the historic sunken paths near Ingelheim. Delectable: rest areas continually tempt you to enjoy a light snack, while wineries and small-scale, seasonal vintners tempt you in to sample some wine. Wine and grape juice for your break are also available from the wine vending machines.

Start: Car park at the sports grounds, 55218 Ingelheim
Duration: 3 hours
Distance: 12 kilometres
Arriving by local public transport: Buses operate regularly from Ingelheim am Rhein train station to Großwinternheim, where this circular route starts.

Lahntal: LahnWeinStieg

A narrow path on the slope, the River Lahn glistening way down below and countless grapevines between dry-stone walls – this is the setting of the totally new trail above Obernhof. Covering a good eleven kilometres, the path does require a decent level of fitness, yet is rewarding with its fun 'Kassiopeia' course and fantastic viewing points. And since hiking here is intrinsically linked with wine, a glass of Riesling or Spätburgunder awaits at the end – pressed from the same steep slopes through which you have just hiked.

Start: Seelbacher Straße (car park at Lahn bridge), 56379 Obernhof
Duration: 5 hours 30 minutes
Length: 10.6 kilometres
Local public transport: Obernhof train station, where this circular tour starts, is located on the Koblenz-Limburg (Lahn) train route.

Black Forest: Oberkirch's distillery trail

This route does its name justice. Along it, nestling among hillside vineyards and the Black Forest Highlands, around Hesselbacher Tal and up to the Geigerskopf Viewing Tower, several distilleries invite you to sample their spirits in their own distillery shops, or direct in the distillery. This trail, which is around 14 kilometres in length, combines sporty hiking with delicious stop-offs. The views to the Rhine Plain, even without sampling some cherry schnapps, Mirabelle plum brandy and the like, are intoxicating.

Start: Wanderparkplatz, Albersbacher Straße, 77704 Oberkirch
Duration: 14 kilometres
Distance: 3 hours 30 minutes
Local public transport: From IC/ICE Offenburg stop, take the Ortenau S-Bahn to Oberkirch, get out at the train station or at Köhler. Alternatively, from Offenburg central bus station (outside the train station building), bus line 7137 operates to Renchtal. Access paths from the stop to the hiking car park are signposted (approx. 1 km).

Swabian Alb: Ehingen beer hiking trail

For starters, the moderate 14-kilometre circular route can be tackled without consuming any beer; proceeding past lovely meadows, through woodland and passing lofty Alb viewing points. Yet with stops at some five breweries, whose selection of beverages ranges from pale lagers to the malty tones of a dark beer, the tour provides even more cheer. And so, Baden-Württemberg's only certified city hiking path becomes a pleasure-packed expedition, where every sip tells a story about the local area.

Start: Marktplatz 7, 89584 Ehingen (Danube)
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
Length: 14 kilometres
Local public transport: the tour starts at Ehinger Marktplatz, a three-minute walk from the train station. Regional trains regularly arrive there from Ulm.

District of Göttingen: orchard fruit hiking trail Duderstadt-Mingerode

Right at the start of the 7.5 kilometre circular route, first designed in 2021, you proceed along the largest old collection of fruit trees in the district. After that, the route has a similar aroma, yet meanders its way across meadows and along old avenues. When the apple, pear and cherry trees are in flower, it's a feast for the eyes, while harvest time is one for the taste buds. Keyword: windfall! For those of you with a thirst for knowledge, the boards providing ecological and historical information will prove useful; for instance the Sulbergturm and Mingeröde Lindenallee.

Start: Kunsthalle HGN, Karl-Wüstefeld-Weg, 37115 Duderstadt
Duration: 1 hour 55 minutes
Length: 7.5 kilometres
Local public transport: Buses operate regularly between Duderstadt and Göttingen. The 'Northeimer Straße' stop is around 800 metres from the start of the tour.

Sauerland: Rothaarsteig-Spur Wisentpfad

The European bison, which have been roaming freely near Wittgenstein in the Rothaar Mountains since 2013, do indeed look imposing, but they are very peaceful. And shy. So will you actually catch a glimpse of Europe's largest land mammal? Certainly, in the viewing enclosure along the moderately difficult 13-kilometre circular hiking trail . Another thing is for sure: on this route through dense woodland and picturesque valleys, you'll work up an appetite. So it's fortunate that there several options for refreshment stops on the route.

Start: Casimirstaler Weg 1, 57319 Bad Berleburg-Wingeshausen
Duration: 5 hours 30 minutes
Distance: 13 kilometres
Local public transport: From Bad Berleburg-Aue train station there is a path, about 800 metres long, to Westertal car park. It is even closer from the Kappler Mühle bus stop in Wingeshausen.

Hainich: Hünenteich hiking trail

Acorn, oak, ash, mossy deadwood and above all else, beech! They all feature in Hainich National Park, a section of primeval forest in West Thuringia. Running right through the middle is a narrow trail and little bridges, which take you to the circular trail which starts at Fuchsfarm (a great place to stop for refreshments and snacks!). And this 5.5-kilometre circular hiking trail always has the Hünenteich in view. The Wildcat Woodland for children (Wildkatzenkinderwald) is also a very popular climbing and exploration paradise, as well as being an environmental education station.

Start: Triftchaussee, 99947 Mülverstedt
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Length: 5 kilometres
Local public transport: From Bad Langensalza take line 733 to Mülverstedt and from there it is around a 35 minute walk to the hiking car park – the start and end point of the tour.

Tauber Valley: LT6 hiking trail – Water. Wine. Wide-open views.

Historic fountains, panoramic vineyards and peaceful forest paths shape this approximately 12-kilometre quality hiking trail around Külsheim in the Lovely Tauber Valley. The circular route combines nature and culture in an enjoyable way. It leads through the half-timbered old town with its 18 historic fountains, past Külsheim Castle, through the picturesque Amorsbach Valley and up into the “Hoher Herrgott” vineyard. Along the way, sweeping views open up across the gentle hills of the Tauber Valley. After the hike, local inns invite visitors to enjoy Franconian specialities and wines from the surrounding vineyards.

Start: Schlossplatz, 97900 Külsheim
Duration: 3 hours
Length: 12 kilometres
Local public transport: Külsheim can be reached by bus from Wertheim and Tauberbischofsheim. From the bus station, it is a short walk to Schlossplatz, the starting point of the circular route.

Moselle: Leiermannspfad side trail

Steep vineyards, narrow woodland paths and spectacular views of the Moselle make this Moselsteig side trail a varied circular hike. Covering around 11 kilometres, the route leads from Enkirch through the idyllic Ahringsbach Valley, past historic mills and up to Starkenburg with its traditional communal bakehouses. Time and again, impressive views open up across the Moselle Valley and its famous steep vineyard slopes. The trail takes its name from the legend of the hurdy-gurdy player from the Ahringsbach Valley. To round off the experience, wineries in the historic wine village of Enkirch invite visitors to sample local Rieslings.

Start: Mosel car park, 56850 Enkirch
Duration: 4 hours
Distance: 10.8 kilometres
Public transport: Enkirch can be reached by bus and train. From Kövenig station, a seasonal passenger ferry crosses the Moselle to Enkirch. Alternatively, buses run to the village centre. The starting point is only a few minutes away on foot.