A natural waterfall, a mine railway and hiking trails with different time commitments give Bestwig several specific themes for days out. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, you can plan around the destinations that interest you most: nature near Bestwig-Wasserfall, mining history in Ramsbeck or a trail through the municipality. The roughly 20-minute walk to the Plästerlegge, half-day tours on the BestWege trails and the approximately 60-kilometre Panorama Trail offer different options for hiking.
Waterfall and Hiking Trails
The Plästerlegge near Bestwig-Wasserfall is the only natural waterfall in North Rhine-Westphalia. The water drops almost vertically about 20 metres over a rocky ledge, then continues for around 500 metres as a torrent. From the car park in the centre of the village on Aurorastraße, the waterfall is about a 20-minute walk away. As trail conditions can vary, it is worth checking them before setting out.
The Bestwig Panorama Trail is a route of around 60 kilometres along the ridges of the municipality. You can start from any of Bestwig’s districts. The German Hiking Association has awarded the trail the “Quality Trail Wanderbares Deutschland” designation four times in a row. If you are looking for a half-day hike with a set duration, consider the Bestwiger BestWege trails: these varied circular routes run around Andreasberg, Heringhausen, Nuttlar, Ostwig, Ramsbeck and Velmede-Bestwig; the stated walking time is two to four hours.
Mining in Ramsbeck
At the Sauerland Visitor Mine, an electric mine train travels about 1.5 kilometres through the dark Eickhoffstollen. A hike starts at the same visitor mine on GlĂĽck-Auf-StraĂźe in Ramsbeck: the signposted Mining Trail is about 10 kilometres long and passes numerous mining relics and former mine facilities. The two experiences are quite different: the mine train takes you through the tunnel, while the hiking route focuses on traces of mining in the landscape.
Bus route R72 runs regularly from Bestwig station to the visitor mine. The Ramsbeck-Ziegelwiese stop is right outside. If you plan to travel by bus, check the current timetable before setting off.
Mill, Amusement Park and Ostwig
The Old Grain Mill in Ramsbeck is the only surviving mill in North Rhine-Westphalia with three millstones and medieval technology. It opens every year on Whit Monday, International Mill Day; check the date before your trip. Free guided tours are available at the mill festival. During the milling demonstration, you can watch water power being used to grind grain into flour.
FORT FUN Abenteuerland is located in Bestwig-Wasserfall and offers children and adults a roller coaster, log flume, summer toboggan run, dragon ride, Ferris wheel, indoor playground and show programme, among other attractions. The park’s Trapper Slider is 1.3 kilometres long. Bestwig therefore offers an amusement park with a range of attractions in addition to nature and mining themes.
The Ostwig Swing Trail combines nature with fun for the whole family. It is 1.7 kilometres long and has six different swings. The historic flue gas chimney in Ostwig offers another link to the area’s mining history: it recalls earlier hopes of mining and features a spiral staircase and an observation platform.
Discover more destinations: Berlar, Andreasberg, Wasserfall, Valme, Winterberg, Eslohe, Brilon, Medebach.
See the main travel overview: Hochsauerlandkreis.
