Olmscheid: Circular Walks and Historic Traces

Olmscheid combines easy circular walks with distant views and historic traces. Two routes offer different landscape highlights: one follows the Busbach towards the Irsental valley, while the other starts and ends in Olmscheid and passes the Ginsterheiden nature reserve in the Irsental valley near Daleiden. The municipality also has historic traces. If you are looking for accommodation, the walks can provide a practical starting point for planning your trip.

Two easy circular walks, two landscape highlights

Olmscheid 1 – Busbach-Irsental is an easy 9.5-kilometre circular walk. It passes the hamlet of Steinrausch and follows the Busbach towards the Irsental valley. The route then continues through the Irsental valley and across the Islekhöhen hills; there are viewpoints along the way with distant views. Benches and seating areas along the route are ideal for short breaks. The listed parking area for this walk is on Hauptstraße, by the church in Olmscheid.

The Südeifel Nature Park Hiking Trail No. 13 is an easy 8.9-kilometre circular route that starts and ends in Olmscheid. Along the way, you pass the Ginsterheiden nature reserve in the Irsental valley near Daleiden, which is located in the “Valley of Butterflies”. The Irsental valley and the nature reserve’s golden-yellow broom blossom are among the featured landscape highlights of this walk.

The routes differ in length by 0.6 kilometres; both are rated easy. The Busbach-Irsental circular route passes through Steinrausch, follows the stream and crosses valley and upland landscapes. Trail No. 13 focuses instead on the nature reserve and its broom heaths. This means you can choose between the routes not only by distance, but also by the landscapes you would like to experience along the way.

Historic traces in the municipality

Olmscheid was first documented in 1282 under the historical name “Oelmerscheit”. The municipality is also home to the remains of a prehistoric Celtic hillfort near Hicastel. The remains of a Roman watchtower are another of the municipality’s historic traces. These heritage sites offer a different focus from the walking routes: alongside streams, valleys and distant views, you can also explore Olmscheid’s long history.

Using walks to guide your accommodation search

If you are looking for accommodation in Olmscheid, your planned hiking day can help you choose where to stay. The Südeifel Nature Park Hiking Trail No. 13 starts and ends in the village—a practical point of reference if having a route that starts and finishes in Olmscheid is important to you. The Busbach-Irsental circular route follows a different course, passing Steinrausch, the Busbach, the Irsental valley and the Islekhöhen hills. Compare the routes by distance and landscape highlights, and include the one that appeals to you in your further trip planning.

More to discover in the wider Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm destination

The wider Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm destination offers more cultural attractions and places to visit. The Mühlenberger Stollen Bleialf Visitor Mine has a mining trail with numerous information panels on the area’s mining history. One-hour guided tours of the Mühlenberger Stollen cover ore mining in Bleialf, from geology to applied technology; check the latest tour dates before your visit.

The Devonium in Waxweiler presents complex topics in palaeontology and the science of fossil life in a playful way. The Westwall Museum houses a military history exhibition in the underground corridors and rooms of a bunker, which has three accessible levels. The water castle of Rittersdorf, around 700 years old, has been preserved almost unchanged since it was built and offers a picture of late medieval and early modern Renaissance residential culture. The castle also has a privately run restaurant serving refined country cuisine; check whether it is open before visiting.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Lambertsberg, Kinzenburg, Lierfeld, Neurath, Jucken, Plütscheid, Strickscheid, Dackscheid

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Arzfeld.