Hontheim: Hiking in the Southern Volcanic Eifel

Hontheim between the Üß and Alf

Hontheim lies on a plateau 420 metres above sea level in the southern Volcanic Eifel, between the Üß and Alf. Open fields and forests shape the surrounding area; the landscape also includes the Kondelwald, river valleys and nearby maars. These different landscape features come together to provide a setting for hiking and cycling tours.

Hontheim is considered a starting point for numerous hikes and mountain biking tours. Cycle paths lead towards the maars of the Volcanic Eifel and the nearby Moselle Valley. If you are looking for a hotel for your trip to Hontheim, these activities can help guide your choice of location: consider whether you want to focus on hiking, mountain biking tours or cycle paths towards the Moselle Valley. Check the relevant conditions before setting out on a specific tour.

Maar Landscapes and Bad Bertrich

A striking landscape feature on the Weißerlay/Wispelt route is the Wispelter Maar. It is considered the southernmost maar of the West Eifel Volcanic Field; the Salzbach flows through it. It has a diameter of approximately 400 metres. This makes it possible to describe the site both in geological terms and by its approximate size.

Bad Bertrich is 3 km from Hontheim. It has a Glauber’s salt thermal bath, as well as spa and wellness facilities. If these offerings influence your travel plans, check the facilities and services before your visit.

Excursions in the wider Bernkastel-Wittlich destination

In the wider Bernkastel-Wittlich destination, the volcanic Eifel, the romantic Moselle Valley and the Hunsrück, with its abundance of forests and meadows, come together. This places Hontheim in a broader context: the village is in the southern Volcanic Eifel, while the regional description also encompasses the Moselle Valley and Hunsrück.

In the wider destination, the 816-metre-high Erbeskopf invites visitors to hike and offers a variety of winter sports. At Erbeskopf, the National Park Gate provides information about nature and the environment; its interactive multimedia exhibition focuses on forests and peat bogs. Outdoor activities and an exhibition on nature are therefore two different options within the destination.

The hiking routes around Manderscheid also offer specific points of comparison. The Manderscheider Burgenstieg is a 5.4-kilometre, moderately difficult circular route around the castles; it is listed as taking two hours. The Burgenklettersteig has three stages and is about 4 kilometres long in total, of which 1 kilometre has safety cables. The Burgenstieg is characterised by its circular route, difficulty and duration; for the via ferrata, the stages and the section with safety cables are key planning considerations.

Another independent cycling tour in the wider destination is the Maare-Mosel Cycle Route. It follows a disused railway line for 58.5 kilometres from Daun to Bernkastel-Kues. A bike bus takes cyclists on the route from Bernkastel-Kues back to the starting point; the return journey can be booked in advance. When planning, it is advisable to check the timetable and take the advance booking option into account.

Discover more destinations: Kinheim, Kövenig, Kinderbeuern, Bengel, Willwerscheid.

Back to the wider travel overview: Kröv-Bausendorf.