HIKE ON THE TRAIL OF THE MOUNTAIN RAILWAY
This circular route is 5.7 kilometres long and 150 metres above sea level and takes you from Kohlfurth up through the Kaltenbach valley. Sturdy footwear is required and unfortunately the route is not suitable for pushchairs, wheelchairs etc.
Start at Kohlfurth Bridge
From the starting point on the Kohlfurth Bridge road, follow the signs for Manuelskotten to the right in a south-easterly direction. At the crossroads, take a narrow ascending path to the right on the left-hand side. The path climbs steeply, and to your left are the tram lines of the Bergische Museumsbahn (heritage tram museum). Pass the Wuppertal alpaca farm and walk a little bit further towards a group of houses.
When you reach number 73, have your wits about you. Turn here onto a narrow path into the forest. It can be easily overlooked if there is dense greenery. To the left below you are the tram lines and there is a fantastic view over the Kohlfurth to Solingen. Stay on the firm forest path until you cross the tram lines of the Bergische Museumsbahnen e.V. (www.bmbwuppertal.de) and descend to Petrikshammer. Pass the hammer mill on the right and follow the babbling of the Kaltenbach to the historic Manuelskotten.
First milestone: Manuelskotten - the last active grinding cottage in Wuppertal
From April to October, you can also reach the cottage on the museum tram. The cottage itself has several fixed dates when you can visit it, but special arrangements can be made. You can take a breather at the cottage’s reservoir pond. There is a bench where you can sit for a while.
At the outflow of the reservoir pond, it’s worth taking a look at the stream bed, as old grinding stones are lined up on the bank here. The path leads alongside the pond. Cross the Kaltenbach and turn right onto a forest path. Keep right at the fork in the path and then follow the Bergische Weg. It gets a little uneven and steep. The path meets the tram lines again which you cross sharp right. Then turn left into the forest. Take the left path, cross a little stream and follow the forest path.
On the ridge in Wuppertal Cronenberg
When you leave the forest, walk along a field. The path leads to the Naturfreundehaus am Hülsberg. Go round the building to the right where you will meet the tram lines again. Don’t get confused here, go directly left along the tram lines following a footpath. To your left is a field, after which you turn left into the forest before a sign telling you not to set foot on the tram lines.
First a tram line crossing, then beautiful views
The route leads again to the tram lines, which you follow until you see a stop on the right, after which you begin your ascent uphill. When the museum railway is in operation, especially at weekends, care should be taken when crossing the tram lines. The path continues upwards and meets a wider forest path which you follow to the left until it joins a farm track. Walk along this track until you reach an intersecting path at a tree. To the right, you can see the steeple of the Reformed Church in Cronenberg on the horizon. Follow this path to the left. It leads around a field back into the forest.
Good sense of direction and surefootedness required
Ignore a downhill path on the left and follow the path back out of the forest into a field. The path leads towards a small group of birch trees which you pass on the left. Continue walking across the field. The path is difficult to see here. You can find your way by looking out for a small copper beech tree, under which the path widens before it meets a tarmac road.
Turn left and at the first opportunity follow a small footpath that leads back into the forest and uphill again. Turn left at the end of it and continue along the path until you reach a wide gravel path which you follow around to the left. Further on, head left at a shelter down a steep section of the path.
Turn right at the next crossroads and then left down the mountain at the next opportunity. You need to be especially careful here as the path is very uneven and can be slippery.
Walk back to the Wupper
Go over the crest of the mountain ridge. To the right, the Kohlfurth is below you again and to the left, the Petrikshammer reservoir pond glistens through the trees. The path goes very steeply around to the left and leads to a tarmac road. Turn right here and walk through the tunnel ahead. Once through the tunnel, you will be back at the first crossroads on your walk. Turn right to return to the starting point of the walk, the eponymous Kohlfurth Bridge.
