The Eh1 circular trail in Erflinghausen leads back to the village centre; at the same time, the village can serve as a starting point for the 80-kilometre Meschede Heights Hiking Trail. The Hennesee Loop includes Erflinghausen in its link between the Sauerland Cycle Ring and the Ruhr Valley Cycle Route. Hiking, cycling and architectural history thus offer different starting points for planning a trip.

Hiking around Erflinghausen

The Erflinghausen Eh1 circular trail starts at the hiking information board in the village centre and ends back in the village centre. Both the start and finish are therefore in the heart of the village. The Meschede Heights Hiking Trail follows a different route: It is 80 kilometres long in total and runs as a circular trail through the Meschede municipal area. Erflinghausen, south of Lake Henne, can serve as a possible starting point. These details highlight the difference between a loop that returns to the village centre and a much longer circular trail through the municipal area.

Herb walks in Erflinghausen offer a guided way to explore the landscape. Visitors learn about the wild herbs of the Sauerland and set off on an exploratory walk with experienced guides. This offers a different focus from following a circular trail: here, the emphasis is on wild herbs and guided exploration.

Cycling the Hennesee Loop

The Hennesee Loop connects the Sauerland Cycle Ring with the Ruhr Valley Cycle Route. From Meschede, it first follows the Ruhr to Wennemen, then continues via Berge and Eslohe to Erflinghausen and Lake Henne. Erflinghausen is therefore part of a named route linking several places and two cycle routes. Comparing hiking and cycling, the difference is clear: the Eh1 returns to the village centre, while the Hennesee Loop follows its described route between Meschede and Lake Henne.

St. Lucia Chapel: Architecture and history

St. Lucia Chapel in Erflinghausen is a small, listed central-plan building with eight sides, a slate-covered dome and a lantern. Its historic furnishings include a Baroque altar dating from the mid-17th century. Its renovation is also part of its history: in 1995 and 1996, the chapel was extensively renovated by the village’s residents. The building thus offers a chance to explore its striking form, historic furnishings and more recent renovation history.

More to explore in the wider destination of Meschede

In the wider destination of Meschede, trails around Lake Henne offer a variety of experiences. The A8 circular hiking trail goes all the way around the reservoir and offers views of the lake. The Wogenweg runs along the shore; changing themed poems are displayed on twelve steles. The A8 focuses on a loop around the reservoir, while the Wogenweg combines a walking trail with texts.

Activities on the water are also part of what Meschede has to offer: at Berghausen bathing cove, options include swimming, stand-up paddleboarding at the water sports station, sailing and rowing. These options add a different focus to the trails, without being located in Erflinghausen itself.

Discover more destinations: Oberberge, Frenkhausen, Remblinghausen, Grevenstein, Wennemen, Eversberg, Freienohl.

Back to the main travel overview: Meschede.