Freilingen combines the endpoint of a WesterwaldSteig stage with the Postweiher and its beach area. This gives you a specific hiking route and seasonal water activities to consider when planning your trip. If you’re looking for hotels in Freilingen, you can first decide whether the hiking stage or the beach area’s activities should determine your travel dates.
Hiking: stage, elevation gain and starting point
The 19.6-kilometre WesterwaldSteig stage from Westerburg ends in Freilingen. It is rated as moderate and includes 321 metres of ascent and 314 metres of descent. The distance, difficulty rating and elevation changes give you concrete points of reference for fitting the stage into your travel plans. Temporary detours may occur, so check the current route before setting out.
The access point to the WesterwaldSteig is the hiking car park opposite the Freilingen campsite at the Postweiher, directly on the B8. The starting point is on the opposite side of the road and follows the path beside the lake. This information helps you locate the stage’s start or endpoint on site without confusing the car park with the trail access point.
Postweiher: protected area and beach area
The Freilingen campsite and the Postweiher are located in a nature and bird sanctuary. Swimming, paddling, pedal boating and surfing are available at the Postweiher beach area. This adds another kind of leisure activity to the hiking options, but these activities should not be assumed to be available year-round.
Availability of activities at the beach area may vary by season. If you want to plan your stay around the water activities, check in advance which activities are offered on your travel dates. This lets you choose your travel dates more deliberately instead of treating the beach area’s activities as a fixed requirement for your stay.
Discover more in the wider Westerwald destination
In the wider Westerwald destination, Freilingen’s hiking options can be placed within a broader route network: the WesterwaldSteig is a 235-kilometre long-distance hiking trail through the Westerwald with 16 stages. The 19.6-kilometre stage that ends in Freilingen is part of a longer regional route. If you’re planning other sections, consult the current route planner; temporary detours may occur.
Another regional hiking trail is the Druidensteig. It runs for 94 kilometres in seven daily stages through seven river valleys and features more than 30 geo-information points. These figures describe a separate route: alongside the WesterwaldSteig stage hike, the Westerwald also offers a trail with designated daily stages and geological information points.
The Stöffel-Park combines geology and industrial heritage. It is a former basalt quarry site of around 140 hectares in the Westerwald. Fossils are on display in the park’s TERTIÄRUM, including the famous “Stöffel mouse”, which document around 25 million years of Earth’s history. The park brings together two different perspectives on the same site: its former use as a quarry and the history of the Earth presented there.
The wider destination also offers dedicated places to discover culture and craftsmanship. The Westerwald Ceramics Museum showcases the history of working with clay; the objects on display usually originated in a Westerwald clay pit. In the museum workshop, visitors can get creative themselves under expert guidance. Check the current workshop and booking conditions before your visit.
In Hachenburg, restored half-timbered houses around the Alter Markt shape the historic town centre; the Löwenbrunnen is also part of its historic atmosphere. The Hachenburg brewery offers beer experience tours and brewing courses; individual dates can be arranged by phone. Check current booking options directly with the brewery. This means the wider Westerwald destination offers not only hiking and geological attractions, but also historic townscapes and regional brewing culture.
Discover more destinations: Stockum-PĂĽschen, Guckheim, Dreisbach, Gackenbach, Stahlhofen Am Wiesensee, Pottum, Neuhochstein, Molsberg.
Back to the main travel overview: Westerwald.
