Erflinghausen: Hiking, Cycling and Chapel Culture

Located south of Lake Henne, Erflinghausen combines hiking routes, a cycling route with regional connections, and a distinctive local landmark. You can tailor your trip to different interests: walking trails, a cycling tour, or architecture and history.

Cycling between the Ruhr, Erflinghausen and Lake Henne

The Hennesee Loop connects the Sauerland Cycle Ring with the Ruhr Valley Cycle Route. From Meschede, it first follows the Ruhr to Wennemen, then continues via Berge and Eslohe to Erflinghausen and Lake Henne. This makes Erflinghausen part of a route linking several named places and two cycling trails. The sequence provides a useful guide for planning: if you are interested in this cycling tour, you can consider Erflinghausen in the context of the wider route, rather than focusing on just one destination.

Hiking: a local circular route or a highland trail

The Erflinghausen Eh1 Circular Trail starts at the hiking information board in the village centre and ends back in the village centre. The start and finish are therefore in the same place; the circular trail provides a clearly defined hiking option to plan around. The Meschede Highland Trail can also begin in Erflinghausen. The village is a district of Meschede, south of Lake Henne, and thus one of the possible starting points for this trail.

The Meschede Highland Trail is 80 kilometres long, forms a circular route and runs through the municipal area of Meschede. Marked with an “M”, it leads from Erflinghausen via Grevenstein and Freienohl to Eversberg and offers views across the region. The local Eh1 loop and this 80-kilometre highland trail represent different scales of hiking. So when planning your time on the trails, it is worth first deciding whether you have in mind a circular route that starts and ends in the village centre, or the longer Meschede hiking trail.

St. Lucia Chapel: an architectural highlight

St. Lucia Chapel in Erflinghausen is a small, listed central-plan building with eight sides. Its distinctive features include a slate-covered dome and a lantern. Its historic furnishings add another special touch: the chapel houses a Baroque altar dating from the mid-17th century. The building’s form and furnishings provide further points of interest alongside the trails that make Erflinghausen distinctive.

The building’s history also includes an extensive renovation in 1995 and 1996, in which the villagers took part. For visitors interested in culture and local history, the chapel offers a tangible connection to the architectural history of the village. Hiking, cycling and exploring this historic building offer different ways to plan a trip, without one needing to depend on another.

In the wider destination of Meschede

Beyond Erflinghausen, Meschede also offers a range of ways to shape your stay. In Meschede, the Henne Boulevard links the lake and the town over a distance of two kilometres and is accessible, with a fitness trail. For families, the Senses Trail above Lake Henne is designed as a family-friendly circular route; ten interactive stations and views of the lake define the trail. Pirate Bay at Lake Henne is a free outdoor adventure playground for families, with a pirate ship, climbing and play equipment, and an accessible inclusive area.

If you would rather combine your stay with activities on the water, Berghausen Bathing Bay at Lake Henne offers swimming, stand-up paddleboarding at the water sports station, sailing and rowing. These activities are part of the wider destination of Meschede, not local features of Erflinghausen. When choosing accommodation, you can therefore consider whether your trip should focus on Erflinghausen’s trails and St. Lucia Chapel, or also include the other activities specifically located in Meschede.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Remblinghausen, Freienohl, Oberberge, Wennemen, Grevenstein, Eversberg, Frenkhausen.

Back to the main travel overview: Meschede.