Hoheleye – Mountain Village on the Rothaar Ridge

Hoheleye is a small mountain village on the ridge of the Rothaar Mountains, with magnificent views. The routes reveal different sides of the area: one hiking stage leads to Hoheleye, another tour connects the village with Bad Berleburg railway station, and winter routes offer their own opportunities. The history of the high-altitude villages on the Rothaar Ridge is another part of the picture. When looking for accommodation, you can therefore start by considering whether your trip will focus mainly on hiking, winter activities, or the landscape and local history.

Hiking trails with different destinations

The eighth stage of the Winterberg High Tour leads from Mollseifer Hof in Mollseifen to Hoheleyer Hof in Hoheleye. The Rothaarsteig public transport tour runs from Hoheleye to Bad Berleburg railway station and is 15.6 kilometres long. It starts at the “Girkhäuser Straße” bus stop in Winterberg-Hoheleye. Along the way, it passes several sculptures on the Forest Sculpture Trail and the Rothaarsteig suspension bridge. This tour combines a clearly defined route with cultural stops along the way. Check the current route information and bus timetable when planning your trip.

Cross-country ski trail and winter hiking trail

In winter, a cross-country ski trail and a hiking trail of different lengths offer options to choose from. The Hoheleye cross-country ski trail is 7.991 kilometres long, with both an ascent and a descent of 125 metres. The climbs offer views into the Lenne and Odeborn valleys. The premium “Kahler Asten – Langewiese – Hoheleye Border Trail” winter hiking trail is 6.6 kilometres long and leads to Hoheleye. You can therefore choose between a cross-country ski trail with specified elevation figures and a winter hiking trail. Conditions on the winter hiking trail may vary seasonally; check the current conditions before setting out.

Mountain village and history on the Rothaar Ridge

Hoheleye is believed to have developed gradually as one of the high-altitude villages on the Rothaar Ridge. Hoheleye remained a settlement of three farms, while the newly founded Kanondörfer villages were almost exclusively charcoal burners’ settlements. This different pattern of settlement gives the history of the small mountain village a concrete context. Traditional crafts also form part of the story of the high-altitude villages: during the long, cold winter months, spoons, bowls and other wooden goods were mainly made from maple wood at home. This offers a glimpse into a historical everyday tradition of the high-altitude villages, not a present-day workshop offering. Together with the named hiking trails and their artworks, local history offers a cultural perspective on the Rothaar Ridge.

More experiences in the wider Winterberg destination

The wider Winterberg destination offers other outings and activities. The “Family First” loop in Winterberg Trail Park is aimed at trail beginners and families who want to get their first experience on trails. The Winterberg ski lift carousel offers 44 kilometres of descents on groomed slopes and modern chairlifts. Another distinctive landmark is the St. George ski jump, whose arch rises 80 metres above the Rothaar Mountains at Herrloh; it is considered a landmark of Winterberg.

The Panorama Erlebnis Brücke is 435 metres long and 20 metres high. Five fun elements let visitors scramble over, under or alongside the bridge. From there, you can enjoy views of Winterberg, its landmarks and sights, as well as Winterberg Bike Park. The bridge is accessible to wheelchair users; dogs are permitted on a lead. Check the current operating conditions before your visit.

Plan your stay around your interests

When looking for accommodation, it helps to decide what you want your trip to focus on. If you mainly want to hike, you can use the stages mentioned above and the Rothaarsteig public transport tour as a guide. For winter days, you can choose between the cross-country ski trail and the winter hiking trail leading to Hoheleye. If you also want to include experiences in the wider Winterberg destination, you can weigh them against Hoheleye’s routes and history as different travel interests. That way, your search for suitable accommodation starts with a specific question: which aspect of the landscape, activity or culture would you like to shape your stay?

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Neuastenberg, Siedlinghausen, Lenneplätze, Züschen, Altenfeld, Grönebach, Silbach, Hildfeld.

Back to the main travel overview: Winterberg.