Northeast of Magura is a ridge with three named Varfuls (varful = mountain, or top) that separate the Magura highlands from the town of Zarnesti. The hills are a nice backdrop to the village. They can be easily explored. The path from Magura Center is blocked by fallen trees and shrubs. We were invited by the farmer to the left...

Cabana Curmatura is one of the key mountain huts in the Pietra Craiului National Park, from which the summits of the Königstein may be climbed. The month of May may not be a good time, generally, to attempt a hike to the summit ridge, because of lingering snow and ice, rain and unpredictable weather conditions. Nevertheless, a...

Its vicinity to Brasov and Bran (Dracula's Castle) makes it a popular hiking area - though in early May we found ourselves mostly the only hikers on the trails. Magura has a good infrastructure, notably Villa Hermani, but also many other pensions and small hotels. Having settled into the comfortable Villa Hermani, there was...

This is a beautiful trail - and most of it is relatively rarely visited. The trail follows description #15 of the guidebook 'Vergessene Pfade - Harz' (lost trails) by Richard Goedecke. While the book and the trails are very beautiful and fuel the appetite for more hikes in the Harz, the actual trail descriptions can be vague. As...

The Olef stream, before it feeds into the Olef Dam, forms the border between Germany and Belgium. It crosses right through one of the largest patches of forest in the Northern Eifel. As such, our trail is somewhat remote and requires a few minutes of planning. We opted to begin the hike at the parking place in Hollerath - the...

This is a very cool trail. The area around Echternach and Irrel is known for its bizarre rock formations, and the Felsenweg showcases some of its best. There are, in fact, several Felsenwege, numbered one to six, providing hiking fun for several weeks. This trail is technically not at all difficult, but it is a fairly tough...

Given the popularity of Monschau as the prime destination in the Northern Eifel, one may wonder whether there are alternatives to the busy tourist roads that approach the town from all directions. Indeed there are such trails. One of them follows the left bank of the Rur (seen upstream) from Grünental. The trail is - in parts...

This hike takes you from the little town of Ilsenburg to the Brocken summit - the highest mountain in northern Germany. The trail is named after the German poet Heinrich Heine, who is said to have travelled here. At several way points, Heinrich Heine and his poetry are remembered. It is one of the longest hiking trails to the...

This was our first trip to the Lüneburger Heide and we were thoroughly impressed - even though the Heather was not yet in blossom. The trail runs through one of the best parts of the Heide. We did the hike on a Friday, met very few people, but can imagine the crowds roaming the fields especially on weekends during holidays and...

The trails of the Valley of the Hoegne stream, between Hockai and the Belleheid Bridge, are under the patronage of the Belgian King Albert II, and the valley is rated among the most beautiful of Belgium. We haven't hiked all valleys in Belgium, but we tend to agree. It is an absolute highlight. Almost as beautiful is the valley...

The old parking at the Wolfgarten trailhead seems to be no longer available, and some signs have been posted insinuating that the trails starting from here are closed for a length of about 200 meter. The suggested deviations are incomplete and the entire situations appears to be utterly confusing. Our inquiry with some locals...

This has nothing to do with cold feet. Coltsfoot (tussilago farfara), or in German Huflattich, is one of the first wild flowers showing up in March - about at the same time as Daffodils. They signal the arrival of spring, and if one hasn't started to shake off the dust from the hiking boots, this is the time to do it. We selected...

The Riffelsbach Loop is a misnomer. While the trail crosses and - for a short part - follows the Riffelsbach, it is really a trail above the Rur, from Hammer to Dedenborn and back through the hills. The Rur is without doubt the most important stream in the Northern Eifel, and it is beautiful wherever you go. This makes it...

The trail has three highlights: (i) the Boardwalks near Sourbrodt lovingly maintained by the Sourbrodt community, (ii) the glimpses of the Fagne Wallonne and the closest point to the source of the river Rur as you can get; and (iii) a stretch of wild forest along one of the branches of the young Rur. Between them, you have to...

The Dreiborner Hochfläche is part of what used to be a restricted area used for military exercise. For many years, no commercial or touristic activity was allowed. Following the suspension of military activity, the area became part of the Eifel National Park - meaning it is left on its own save for trail maintenance. The area...

The 'Hohe Venn' and the area around Monschau are often treated separately in Hiking guides. The ‘Kreuz im Venn’ is usually visited in connection with the Cloister of Reichenstein, which in turn is visited on trails starting in Monschau. Here, we connect a pleasant Venn experience with the Cross in the Venn. The hike starts...

A winter walk near the Höfener Mühle. Plenty of snow, glorious weather, well below the freezing point, make this hike even more desirable than in summer. The Fuhrtsbach and the Perlenbach were partly frozen. The long ascent from the valley to the Jägersief is sufficient exercise to keep warm. The shiny new shelter at the...

This is an easy but interesting (and quite popular) trail that takes in a great deal of boardwalks through the moorlands of the 'Hohe Venn'. There is a central parking, and the trail can even be shortened - something that you are unlikely to consider once you set off. There are signboards and detailed explanations along the...

The Perlbach valley, which during spring sees the spectacle of thousands of wild-growing daffodils, is a favourate hiking area along the German - Belgium border. For those shying away from the big Daffodil-tour, this is shorter variant. As a bonus you get the views from the Bieley, which is a rocky outcrop overlooking the...

La Rocca dominates the silhouette of Cefalu. A visit to Cefalu is not complete without the hike up to the castle. The mountain may have a fresh breeze when it is getting hot in Cefalu town. Entrance is regulated by a gate near Piazza Garibaldi, where a fee is charged. The trail is well signposted, and not difficult. Excellent...