Radlinghausen offers two different perspectives on hiking: a 7-kilometre circular route from Rösenbeck towards Radlinghausen, and the 10.4-kilometre M5 Brilon–Madfeld circular hike. Two travel details are also useful for finding your way: the starting point of the M5 at Kelleker Holz can be reached from Radlinghausen via the K60; bus route 483 serves the Tiefer Weg stop.
Hiking around Radlinghausen
The 7-kilometre circular hike starts in Rösenbeck and heads towards Radlinghausen. Along the way, it passes three old windmills before reaching a field path to Radlinghausen. The route therefore combines a clear distance with a described sequence of waypoints: first the windmills, then the field path towards Radlinghausen. If you choose this route, you can use the 7-kilometre distance and the course between the two villages as your guide.
At 10.4 kilometres, the M5 Brilon–Madfeld circular hike is the longer of the two routes mentioned. It is estimated to take around three hours. The trail passes through and around the Forst Bredelar nature reserve. The routes can therefore be considered according to different criteria: the route from Rösenbeck features windmills and a field path in its described course; the M5 offers a longer distance, an approximate duration and a connection to the nature reserve.
There are also two specific travel reference points that you can consider separately. Kelleker Holz, the starting point of the M5 hike, can be reached from Radlinghausen via the K60. Bus route 483 serves the Tiefer Weg stop. If you are planning to travel by bus, check the timetable for the day of your visit. The stop information and access to the starting point describe different aspects of finding your way.
In the wider destination of Brilon: town history and geology
The wider destination of Brilon offers culture and geology in addition to hiking. The Haus Hövener Town Museum is in the centre of Brilon, right on the market square. The building has largely been preserved in its 1910 condition; an interactive town model offers insights into life in Brilon in past centuries. Original Iguanodon bones are also on display at Haus Hövener; they were discovered in 1978 in a quarry near Brilon-Nehden. Themed town tours can be booked through the town museum; it is advisable to check availability before your trip.
Brilon’s old town also offers specific points of interest for a cultural stroll: it preserves well-maintained historic architecture, including a group of half-timbered buildings on the market square. The imposing west tower of the Provost Church of St Peter and St Andrew is considered a landmark of Brilon. Another Brilon tradition is the Schnadezug. It is one of Westphalia’s largest and most distinctive folk festivals, and a central expression of Brilon’s customs and traditions. The tradition dates back more than 620 years; the Schnadezug has been documented as a boundary walk since 1388.
The Geologischer Sprung Brilon (Brilon Geological Leap) offers a different focus: this approximately 8-kilometre themed trail brings two distinct geological features from the Devonian period to life—the limestone hills of the Brilon plateau and the diabase deposits of Bilstein. Highlights include an observation platform on the 634-metre-high Bilstein spoil heap. Culture and geology can thus be explored as separate themes within Brilon, without equating them with the hiking trails from Radlinghausen.
More trails in Brilon
The certified Rothaarsteig and certified Briloner Kammweg trails both start at Brilon’s market square. One section of the Rothaarsteig runs from Brilon via Olsberg to Bruchhausen and is 17.02 kilometres long. For a shorter themed option, there are the DinoSpuren in Brilon-Nehden: this family-friendly circular trail focuses on dinosaur tracks, is about 800 metres long and has no strenuous climbs. Brilon’s trails therefore differ considerably in their themes and lengths.
Discover more destinations: Nehden, Alme, Madfeld, Bontkirchen, Hoppecke, Brilon-Wald, Gudenhagen
Back to the overview of destinations: Brilon.
