Two easy circular hikes provide a specific nature focus for planning a trip around Olmscheid. Olmscheid 1 – Busbach-Irsental is 9.5 kilometres long. The Südeifel Nature Park Hiking Trail No. 13 is 8.9 kilometres long and starts and ends in Olmscheid. Both routes are rated easy; the difference in length is 600 metres. When choosing between them, what matters most is which landscape and route are a better fit for your stay.
Busbach, valley views and places to sit
Olmscheid 1 – Busbach-Irsental passes the hamlet of Steinrausch and follows the Busbach towards the Irsental Valley. The route crosses the Irsental Valley and the Islek Heights; there are viewpoints along the way with far-reaching views. The route described thus alternates between stream, valley and heights. If you would like to plan short breaks, there are benches and seating areas along the route. The designated parking area for this hike is on the main road by the church in Olmscheid.
Juniper heaths and the Irsental Valley
The Südeifel Nature Park Hiking Trail No. 13 links the start and finish in Olmscheid with a different focus: the route passes through the protected juniper heathland area in the Irsental Valley near Daleiden, also known as the “Valley of Butterflies”. Featured highlights include the Irsental Valley and the golden-yellow gorse that blooms in the nature reserve. Compared with the Busbach-Irsental circular hike, this route is 600 metres shorter; both are rated easy.
Historical traces in the municipality
Olmscheid’s history also has several points of reference across different periods. The village was first mentioned in 1282 under the historical name “Oelmerscheit”. The municipality is also home to the remains of a prehistoric Celtic hillfort at Hicastel and the remains of a Roman watchtower. These historic sites form part of the village’s historical character, while the two circular routes bring the natural landscape to the fore. When planning a stay, you can use these different themes to choose your own focus: the trails for a hike, or the historical remains as further aspects of the village’s history.
More cultural attractions and excursion ideas in the Eifelkreis Bitburg-PrĂĽm
In the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm, the Mühlenberger Stollen Bleialf visitor mine offers a one-hour guided tour through the mine. Visitors learn about ore mining in Bleialf, from geology to applied technology. The mine also has a mining trail with numerous information panels about the area’s mining history. Check the seasonal opening information when planning your visit. The Devonium in Waxweiler presents complex topics in palaeontology and fossil life in an engaging way.
Other themes range from military history to domestic culture. The Westwall Museum is housed on three accessible floors of a bunker; its underground corridors and rooms contain a military history exhibition. The water castle of Rittersdorf, around 700 years old, has remained almost unchanged since it was built and offers a glimpse of late medieval and early modern Renaissance domestic culture. The castle also has a privately run restaurant serving refined country cuisine; check whether the restaurant is open before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Eilscheid, Kinzenburg, Lierfeld, Eschfeld, Leidenborn, Dackscheid, Lichtenborn, LĂĽnebach.
For the overview of the wider area: Arzfeld.
