Varste is a starting point for various cycling and hiking routes: a regional cycling loop passes through the village, and the Brachtser Höhenweg leads to Varste. Other trails in the wider Kirchhundem destination offer additional ideas for planning your trip. The routes can be distinguished by their precise course—whether they include Varste, lead into the village or run just below it.
Cycling and hiking trails around Varste
The regional Welschen Ennest–Silberg–Kohlhagen cycling tour is a loop that passes through Varste. The Silberbach River and the Breitenbruch nature reserve lie along the route; the tour passes both on its way toward Varste. This means the cycling loop combines its route through Varste with these named landscape features. Check local route conditions before setting out.
The Brachtser Höhenweg leads to Varste. There, it follows the road “Zur Kophelle,” marked with a white diamond, to the Wegescheid hiking car park. Another loop, “Naturschätze am Kölschen Heck,” reaches a point just below Varste. So when choosing a route, it matters which connection to the village you are looking for: the cycling loop passes through Varste, the Höhenweg leads into the village, and the Naturschätze loop runs as far as just below it. Also check the current route, as route information may change.
Culture in the wider Kirchhundem destination
The Schrabben Hof cultural site in Kirchhundem-Silberg combines a local history museum with a nostalgic café, an old bakehouse, a beer garden, a festival barn, a beer tavern, a flea-market barn and a theatre barn. Most of the building complex is listed, and it offers a wide-ranging cultural programme. The local history museum displays regional exhibits from the 19th century relating to crafts, transport, coppice forestry and agriculture. Covering about 250 square metres, it also tells the story of life in a Sauerland village and the mining history of Silberg. Further exhibits include information about nature reserves in the region, as well as fossils and minerals illustrating the history of the Earth.
Nature and trails in Kirchhundem
The historic Rhein-Weser-Turm on the Westerberg in the Rothaargebirge is 24 metres high and offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. From there, a 14.4-kilometre section of the Rothaarsteig passes through the Schwarzbachtal nature reserve and the Heinsberger Hochheide heathland before reaching Ginsberger Heide. Along the way, it passes Dreiherrnstein and the source of the Ferndorf. Another hiking option in the wider destination is the Rothaarsteig-Spur Oberhundemer Bergtour: this signposted premium circular trail starts and ends at the Haus des Gastes hiking portal in Oberhundem’s spa park. The route winds through forests and past rugged cliffs to panoramic viewpoints on the Kahleberg.
The natural areas also each have their own distinctive features. The Schwarzbachsystem nature reserve with Haberg and Krenkeltal is in the municipality of Kirchhundem in the district of Olpe, covers 312 hectares and comprises six separate areas. It is characterised by a largely unspoilt, extensive and highly branched stream system formed by the Schwarzbach, Meinscheidbach and their tributaries. Those interested in cultural history can also explore audio tours on various circular hiking trails in Kirchhundem, ranging from five to ten kilometres. Anecdotes and stories bring the history along the former border between the Sauerland, Siegerland and Wittgensteiner Land to life.
Discover more destinations: Silberg, Brachthausen, Heinsberg, Oberhundem.
Back to the main travel overview: Kirchhundem.
