Möhnetal cycle path

Möhnetal cycle path
overall length	65 km
location	North Rhine-Westphalia
Starting point	Brilon
Target point	Möhne estuary near Neheim
Places along the way	Brilon , Wülfte , Rüthen , Belecke , Sichtigvor , Allagen , Niederbergheim , Völlinghausen , Niederense , Neheim
Flooring	asphalt
Height difference	277 meters in altitude
Traffic volume	low
Connection to	RuhrtalRadweg , ; Almeradweg , ; GeoRadroute Ruhr-Eder, ; Pengel-Anton-Radweg
Website URL	moehnetalradweg.de

The MöhnetalRadweg is a 65-kilometer cycle path that starts near the Brilon Stadt train station . From here it runs along the Möhne and Möhnesees to Neheim , where the RuhrtalRadweg connects. The cycle path was officially opened on April 19, 2013 at the Möhnsee dam. The cycle paths used were already there, but they were not marketed as a continuous cycle path along the Möhne. The railway cycle paths on the former Möhnetalbahn were built between 1975 and 1983 and were previously marketed exclusively as the Pengel-Anton cycle path, which runs from Völlinghausen on to Soest.

Route

The Möhntal cycle path is offered in three different routes. The main variant leads along the south bank of the Möhnesees. The north variant, on the other hand, runs along the north bank of the lake. For the journey from the Möhnetalsperre to Neheim, in addition to the direct main variant along the L745, there is also a panorama variant from Niederense, which meets the RuhrtalRadweg at Haus Füchten . The cycle path runs mainly on a slope without major climbs. It is partly built on embankments of former railway lines and is part of the state-wide cycling network of North Rhine-Westphalia .

The cycle path does not run along the official Möhne spring at Poppenberg in Brilon, as it only begins 2 kilometers further north in the city center of Brilon at the train station. Otherwise it always runs along the Möhne up to its confluence with the Ruhr. From the train station in Brilon to shortly before Rüthen, the cycle path runs mainly on the embankment of the dismantled Möhnetalbahn of the Westfälische Landes-Eisenbahn via Wülfte and Heidberg along the B516. In front of Wülfte there is junction 9, where there is a connection to the Almeradweg to Paderborn. Between Heidberg and Rüthen, the cycle path then changes to forestry paths through wooded areas, as the railway line is still operational here. In Rüthen itself, the cycle path leads through a residential and industrial area. Then the cycle path continues to Belecke on forestry paths along the Möhne. In Belecke, the cycle path runs partly on the road network and on separate cycle paths. After leaving Belecke, the cycle path runs back to Völlinghausen on the embankment of the dismantled Möhnetalbahn, mostly far away from the road network through wooded area. On this section of the route, the cycle path crosses the Möhne several times over former railway bridges. In the next town, Sichtigvor, the old train station was converted into an inn for cyclists and two railway wagons were set up, in which exhibits about the Möhnetal railway and a model railway system are on display. The cycle path then leads via Allagen, Niederbergheim and Völlinghausen to junction 68, where the cycle path splits into the main variant along the south bank and the north variant along the north bank of the Möhnsee.

After both variants meet again at junction 75, the cycle path to Neheim partly follows the former Ostönnen - Neheim railway of the AG Ruhr-Lippe-Eisenbahnen . As far as Niederense, a former branch to the Möhnetalsperre is used, which was used to transport materials for the construction of the dam. The guidance on a former railway line can hardly be seen in this section, as the parallel road was also expanded with the dismantling and only the side lane next to the district road remained for the cycle path. The cycle path leads via Günne to Niederense to junction 77, where as an alternative the panorama variant over the Haarstrang to the less attractive country road accompanying tour to Neheim is possible. Only in Neheim does the cycle path leave the shoulder of the L745 and lead directly along the Möhne to junction 32. At this junction, the Möhnetal cycle path meets the Ruhr valley cycle path, which can then also be used to reach the Möhne estuary in the Ruhr.

South bank variant

The cycle path leaves the route of the former Möhnetalbahn at the Möhne inlet of the Möhnesees. In this area, the Möhne is crossed over an old Kanzelbrücke and runs over low-traffic streets until it is crossed with the L857. From the L857 crossing, the cycle path follows to the Delecke campsite on the bank of the country road, along the bathing facilities and boat docks. For the guidance between junction 72 at the Delecke campsite and junction 73 at the Hotel Torhaus, different routes are shown on maps. A variant leads directly along the B229 to Torhaus. In a longer variant, the tip around the Delecker Mark is traveled over the Delecker Bucht and the Hevenebenarm. From the gate house both variants come together again and cross the lake of the Hevenebenarm on a dam. After the dam, the cycle path runs along the edge of the lake through the forest to the Möhnetalsperre, which the cycle path crosses. This is where the south bank variant meets the north bank variant at junction 75.

North bank variant

In contrast to the south bank variant, the cycle path continues on the former railway line of the Möhntalbahn to the lido in Wamel. From here the cycle path leaves the railway embankment and runs along Möhnestraße K8 on the banks of the Möhnesees via the towns of Stockum , Körbecke and Delecke to the Möhnetalsperre, where this variant is merged with the south bank variant at junction 75.

Panorama variant

Between junctions 77 and 32 in the Niederense - Neheim section, the so-called panorama variant via Höingen , Ense-Bremen and Haus Füchten can be used. This variant runs over the Haarstrang and offers good views of the Hellweg region and the Ruhr valley. At Haus Füchten, the cycle path meets the Ruhrtal cycle path at junction 83, which can also be used to reach the end of the main variant in Neheim.

Expansion project

In the urban area of Neheim, the routing of the Möhnetal cycle path between the Möhnepforte and the Wiedenbergbrücke was changed in 2020. Before that, the cycle path passed under the Werler Straße bridge on the other side of the Möhne. This crossing under the bridge is unfavorable for cyclists in a sharp S-curve. Entering the curves at the bridge abutment is always downhill and the course of the curve cannot be seen straight away. Likewise, oncoming cyclists or pedestrians in the curve area can only be seen late. Several accidents have occurred in this area. Therefore, the city of Arnsberg had already provided funds in the 2016/2017 budget to defuse the route. In the planning of the project, however, it became apparent that no satisfactory defuse of the situation is possible. Therefore, the Möhnetal cycle path in this area was relocated to the other side of the Möhne. Before, there was a footpath with stairs on the planned route. These were removed in the course of the measure and a 3 meter wide asphalt bike path was created. The measure was estimated at construction costs of € 227,000, with an estimated € 141,000 being funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

getting there

The starting point of the cycle path is at the Brilon Stadt train station, from which there are regular connections to Dortmund and Marburg . The end point is three kilometers from Neheim-Hüsten train station, from which there are regular direct connections to Dortmund, Hagen , Kassel , Brilon Stadt and Winterberg . On Sundays and public holidays from the last weekend in April to October 3rd, Regionalverkehr Ruhr-Lippe offers bus connections with bicycle trailers on sections of the Möhnetal Cycle Path. One line runs between Brilon and Belecke, a second on the Warstein - Belecke - Völlinghausen - Soest route and a third on the Soest - Günne - Neheim - Sundern-Endorf route.

photos

Bike path next to the B516 between Wülfte and Rüthen in the course of the Möhne
Former railway bridge between Niederbergheim and Völlinghausen is now used as a cycle path
At the entrance to the Möhneseesee, the cycle path runs over a pulpit bridge
Bike path and B229 on the Hevedamm
Bike path along the Hevenebenarm
Bike path on the Möhnetalsperre
End point of the Möhnetal cycle path at junction 32 and connection to the Ruhr valley cycle path
Confluence of the Möhne (in the picture in the back) and Ruhr