Sellinghausen: Miners’ Path, Traditions and Winter Activities

Sellinghausen combines mining history with village traditions and seasonal winter activities. A distinctive starting point for exploring the area is the Sellinghausen Miners’ Path: it turns a historic route to work into the subject of a hike. Other highlights include St. Blaise’s Chapel, an Easter trail and activities for winter hiking, skiing and sledging.

The Miners’ Path tells the story of working life

The Sellinghausen Miners’ Path is a 6.7-kilometre circular hiking trail with an elevation gain of around 300 metres. Some sections are steep—something useful to bear in mind when planning your day. For the most part, the trail follows the footpath that miners from Sellinghausen and Altenilpe took to work for almost 100 years: to the Felicitas slate mine in Heiminghausen. It therefore retraces a route used by miners in the 19th century.

Seven information boards explain the miners’ working lives and the importance of these jobs to the development of Sellinghausen and Altenilpe. The trail markers also reflect the theme: a hiking symbol featuring a hammer and pick marks the route. This circular walk combines a specific hiking route with insights into the local history of mining.

Chapel, village traditions and Easter trail

St. Blaise’s Chapel was built in 1887 and solemnly consecrated on 5 July of that year. It was added to the monument register of the town of Schmallenberg on 27 February 1998. These two dates give the chapel a clear place in the village’s history.

Several traditions are part of the village’s annual calendar. On Altweiberfastnacht (the Thursday before Shrove Tuesday), schoolgirls walk around in costume. Flowers are gathered for the Corpus Christi carpets. On 22 February, schoolboys sing and bang wooden hammers to drive away winter and lure out the sun bird. Those interested in living traditions will encounter a variety of occasions and ways of celebrating here.

At the Grünewalds Eiche village square, part of the trunk of the former oak serves as a table with a glass top and historical dates from the village’s past. A water point and benches invite hikers to take a break. The seasonal Sellinghausen Easter trail is for children and adults: along the way, visitors can solve tasks, and children can collect a prize at the finish.

Winter activities and golf

At the Sellinghausen winter sports centre, the ski lift serves two runs, measuring 600 and 1,000 metres. Three circular cross-country ski trails and a toboggan lift round out the facilities. Use of the winter facilities depends on snow and operating conditions. There are also groomed winter hiking trails around the ski lift; these are seasonal. At some points, the Somberg trail offers views of the northern Schmallenberg Sauerland.

Golf is another key attraction: every hole at Sellinghausen Golf Club offers views. The golf school at the course provides individual and group lessons, taster courses, and intensive courses for beginners and advanced players. Courses to obtain a course proficiency certificate are also available. There is a choice of different lesson formats and learning goals.

More highlights in the wider destination of Schmallenberg

The wider destination of Schmallenberg also offers a variety of themes. Schmallenberg’s old town is characterised by a uniform Neoclassical architectural style and many restored half-timbered houses. Schmallenberg also has a family adventure trail of around three kilometres, with 13 stations covering forests, animals, wood and birds. Compared with the 6.7-kilometre Sellinghausen Miners’ Path, this trail offers a different focus and length.

For a cycling trip, the SauerlandRadring is another option in the wider destination: the 84-kilometre route connects Finnentrop, Eslohe, Schmallenberg and Lennestadt and follows former railway lines. The Forestry Workers’ Museum in Schmallenberg-Latrop displays historic tools, pictures of former forest and village life, historic forestry records, and information on the development of the chainsaw.

Sellinghausen is served by the Schmallenberg municipal bus. Check the current timetable before travelling, as transport services and routes can change.

Discover more destinations: Westfeld, Fleckenberg, Gleidorf, Bad Fredeburg, Lenne, Oberhenneborn, Bödefeld, Niederberndorf.

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Schmallenberg.