The "Rabennest-Route" in and around Kallenhardt

The Waldroute Loop Trail begins at St. Clemens Church. To get hikers off to an inspiring start, a charming panoramic view of the Arnsberg Wald Nature Park awaits them here. Heading along Kirchstraße past the Kallenhardt Elementary School, we follow the trail marker—a “green W on a white background”—labeled “Rabennest-Route.”After about 200 meters, the first point of interest awaits us on the left: the former town hall, built in the 15th century in the late Gothic style—one of the oldest in Westfalen—served as the center of urban life in Kallenhardt until 1809 (when its privileges were revoked). For many centuries up until then, it served as the seat of power for the mayor, the municipal council, and the judicial authorities, where they carried out their sovereign and representative duties. We turn right and follow Burgtorstraße until, after about 250 m, we come to the “Mühlentwietken” trail (= Mill Path) on the left. From there, the path descends steeply, allowing us to enjoy the view of Kalvarienberg across the way. At the next crossroads, there is an information sign about the Kattenstein Cave. However, the interior of the natural cave itself can only be visited by prior arrangement with the Nature and Environmental Protection Association BUND (Lörmecketal local chapter, Tel.: 02902/78873). For a brief glimpse, follow the wooden directional arrow to the cave area, which was thoughtfully designed to blend with nature by the aforementioned initiative at great expense of time. Continuing to follow the route signs, we soon come to the next point of interest: the Siechenkapelle. This building was first mentioned in 1563 as “Seeken Hüseken” and served to house, in particular, people suffering from leprosy—a disease that was still common at the time—in a secluded area outside the city walls. A longer uphill stretch leads us, after about 200 meters, to the next historic site, Kalvarienberg. This area was the site of an old Christian Way of the Cross belonging to the parish of St. Clemens Kallenhardt, which is already marked on a map from the mid-18th century as “Siebenfußfallberg,” a name that refers to the number of original stations of devotion (presumably wooden crosses). The 14 wayside shrines on Calvary Hill today were crafted by the Brilon master stonemason Peter Hilkenbach between 1877 and 1889 from Rüthen green sandstone. We now continue our ascent, accompanied by the Stations of the Cross mentioned earlier. We’ll have covered half the distance when we come to a forest path crossing our route. Here, we keep to the right and follow this forest path for about 2.5 km until we cross the small Glenne River. On this section of our hike, we’re treated to charming views of the Kallenhardt mountain cone and the Arnsberg Forest Nature Park—and this is a great time to take a moment to appreciate the soothing silence and fresh air!We continue following the ascending trail until we reach a shelter, where we can reward ourselves for our efforts so far with a short rest. Following the trail markers, we soon see a stream winding through the valley below, lined with red alders. After about 2 km, we reach the Sutlindenkopf (south of Lindenhöhle) and, as we continue, pass the Jagdhaus Hirscheck. Now we keep to the right and continue on our way for about 500 m. Then we also turn right onto a gravel forest path until we see an underpass on the left. Using a narrow bridge there, we now pass under the L776 and continue hiking until we reach the boundary between the forest and open fields. Here, you have the option of taking a short detour to the left to get a closer look at an old Köhlerhütte. This faithful replica of the seasonal dwelling used by the former charcoal producers was built in 2008 through a collaboration among Kallenhardt associations. Following a path uphill to the right, we continue below the tree line until we arrive at the Rabennest parking lot. At the nearby Warstein Bike Park, you can stop for a break at the “Hütte mit Herz.” After a quick refreshment, we continue on our way, enjoying the view of the Lörmecketal valley stretching out before us. Following the signs, we pass the Hohler Stein parking lot until we turn left past a gate and enter the Lörmecketal Nature Reserve, which spans over 250 hectares. Ahead of us rises the Warstein limestone massif, creating an impressive natural rock backdrop. Further along our route, the Hohle Stein awaits us. This rock formation, carved out over millions of years by tributaries of the Lörmecke, is located southwest of Kallenhardt. During archaeological excavations in the 1830s, finds from various periods dating back to the last Ice Age were discovered in the two cave areas. The traces of human activity discovered there date back to the early hunter-gatherer period around 10,000 B.C., lending this site a very rare prehistoric significance. However, some enigmatic relics have also shrouded this cave in mysterious myths and legends, some of which have even found their way into modern Nibelungen research (e.g., Heinz Ritter-Schaumburg). We now follow the course of the Lörmecke through a valley hollow until another rock formation, the Hoher Stein, rises up before us. Below it stretches a vast Wacholderheide with its characteristic shrubs and trees. To our left, the river has carved its way deep into the valley. Along our route, we come across information signs for the separate themed hiking trail “FliessWege,” which provide interesting facts about the various sections of the terrain. Following this route, we are now accompanied by giant trees that have finally been propped up and integrated into the existing ecosystem. At the end, we turn right onto a paved path and follow the aforementioned special trail signs back to our starting point, St. Clemens Church in the center of Kallenhardt. During a stop at one of the inviting restaurants in Kallenhardt, we can reflect on our experiences once again while enjoying delicious food and drinks.