From Dollnstein to Wellheim – the fabulous Altmühltal valley

Well signposted circular hiking trail from Dollnstein. Highlights/worth mentioning: - Urdonautal - Löwenkopffelsen with a view of the Urdonautal - Konstein - Wellheim castle ruins (currently closed) - Galgenberg (I skipped this because of the threat of a thunderstorm) - Climbing rocks Paths: In the first 2 thirds there is a colorful mix of narrow paths, wider paths and meadow paths. The last section of around 4 km is a wide forest path, partly even asphalted. But that was fine with me today, as I could let it go (because of the approaching thunderstorm). Places to stop: - nothing visible in Konstein - only kebab/pizza in Wellheim, nothing else visible - Da Romana below the climbing rocks http://www.daromano-wellheim.de Places to rest (table and benches): Only at the Wellheim castle ruins ^ Parking: Small car park at the starting point

PP cemetery in Dollnstein. Today the path leads us to loop 11. We hike from Dollnstein to Wellheim, crossing dry slopes with a view of the Urdonautal. The lion's head follows, Wellheim Castle, the gallows hill, The steep climb next to the jackdaw rocks Aicher Wand and Zahn (au cheek...that was really steep). We hike the last few kilometers back to Dollnstein. Here I discover a stone skull at the entrance to the cemetery. Impressive! A very nice but also a tour with a lot of climbs.

After a very quiet night in the parking lot, a couple of horses greeted me in the nearby paddock. Breakfast was oatmeal and flaxseed and coffee. At about half past ten I changed the parking lot, got something for coffee from the supermarket, crossed under the rails at the train station and followed the Schlidern, which were abundant in both directions. In the other direction than planned, of course. Komoot acknowledged this by deleting the route 🤔. I ran the first 3 km on an almost untravelled road. Immediately I reached the forest and the ground changed to gravel. To the left and right, thick, lush, green moss that had covered everything on the ground announced abundant moisture. The path had risen barely noticeably. The silence was almost eerie and I hardly met anyone. After 6 kilometers the first steep descent, and the village of Aicha was in front of me. Past the Galgenberg, a youth campground, a hikers' home, several barrows

Aicha Climbing Area and Climbing Center: The Ansbach climbing center is classified as Category II according to the German Alpine Club (DAV) guidelines. Due to its superior facilities, it is ideally suited as a self-catering hut for multi-day winter or summer stays. The hut is accessible by car but is located far away from any through traffic. The location is therefore ideal for school classes, groups, families, cyclists, or hikers planning excursions, seminars, or celebrations. It is particularly popular and frequently visited by professional climbers or those aspiring to become professional climbers. The hut offers sleeping accommodations for 29 people and is equipped with a modern kitchen and two washrooms with a total of four showers (cold and hot water). The spacious, partially covered outdoor area with a fire pit and barbecue area invites numerous outdoor activities. If you don't feel like cooking, you can also get food from the inn just 100 meters away. The rock formation above the small hamlet of Aicha comprises six main massifs: Merl Towers, Weiße Wand, Fensterlwand, Oberlandwand, Münchner Wand, and Aichaer Wand. On the Weiße Wand, the largest massif in the Aicha Forest, one finds almost exclusively hole climbing. The "Weiße Grat" (White Ridge), rated III, is one of the most rewarding of the easier routes in Konstein. A special highlight for experienced climbers is the "Mittlere Weiße" (Middle White Ridge), rated VI+. The Aichaer Wand offers many extreme routes and beautiful crack climbs. At the Winnetou Kettle – located to the left above the Münchner Wand – you can often see entire "climber families." The reason: There's a plateau at the bottom of the rock that's ideal for playing, and the wall itself isn't insurmountable for young climbers. Wellheim Ruins: The complex, whose irregular rampart conforms to the rocky peak, consists of the approximately 35-meter-high keep made of humped ashlars and the palace opposite – both belonging to the Romanesque upper castle – a lower castle, and the moat built in the 15th century with a small round tower at the north corner. The road now runs through the half-ditch. The ruins are still closed due to construction work. As of July 2025.

There is a lot to see on the Urdonausteig and Schlaufenweg 11. If you start in Dollnstein, it goes straight up over dry grass and juniper heaths with rock formations. From here you have a wonderful view of the Urdonautal. Then again steeply down and on to Konstein. Opposite you can see the Klettetsteig. The lion's head in Konstein is also worth seeing if you have made the steep ascent. We continue to the Wellheim castle ruins. If it is high, several 100 steps lead up and it goes down steeply. There is a risk of falling rocks at the entrance. There's even a road tunnel that goes through here. We continue through Wellheim past the former train station where there is still a signal to the Naturfreunde Haus in Aicha with the climbing rocks. Here comes the most demanding section, as a climb it is almost 30% up, on root paths. Then continue through the forest where the Eichstätt pilgrimage route runs back to the starting point. On the last section you will be rewarded again with a wonderful view of the Urdonautal.

I started the recording too late, so a little bit is missing from the start at Dollnstein train station.

The name of the tour does not begin to reflect how multifaceted the tour is - in addition to a landscape that was shaped by the Danube in prehistoric times, there are impressive rock massifs, several castle ruins, the source of the Schutter and an easy via ferrata. After the path through Dollstein, the tour goes along a path up to the edge of the slope, which was once the bank of the ancient Danube. Today the valley has long been dry and the slopes are loosely forested and crisscrossed by rocks that now and then stretch up towards the sky. From up here there is a fantastic panorama and with a little imagination you can imagine how the Danube once flowed along here. After descending into the valley, the tour continues along forest paths and forest roads through the forest towards Konstein. A path finally leads down to Konstein. The place was first mentioned in 1186 with the nobleman Chuno de Lapide (Kuno von Stein), and the former Konstein Castle is also associated with him. Apart from a few remains of the curtain wall and the restored arched entrance gate, nothing remains of the castle. The pretty building behind the church, next to the castle ruins, is the manor house of the former glassworks. The tour continues to the “Löwenkopf” viewpoint. The striking rock formation with the cross allows a great view over the valley of the ancient Danube and the Jackdaw rock. The tour continues through the forest to the Wellheim castle ruins. Unfortunately, it was not accessible due to renovation work. So we went straight on and down to Wellheim. After a short break at the local supermarket, we continued to the Schutterquelle. If I had known that the Naturfreunde Haus there was safely open, my break would have been there. Not only the inviting ambience, but also the view invite you to linger. Next, the tour leads back to Konstein and the previously mentioned Jackdaw Rock. The slightly different hiking trail begins here, an easy via ferrata (rock trail, marked in red). After the initial path through the slope, you have to climb unsecured a few meters up the rock. There is no help or protection, but the rock here is very structured so that it offers enough holds and steps. The path then runs across the edge of the slope and can be walked normally, apart from two places where a steel cable provides assistance when crossing a smaller rock. More information about the rock/via ferrata route can be found at: https://www.dav-ingolstadt.de/kletteranlagen-und-bereich/oberlandsteig After the passage through the “Rock Garden” we go back up and along forest paths through the forest back to Dollnstein. At the end of the forest path there is a view of the Altmühltal and the Burgstein rocks. From the Antonius Chapel, the tour takes a familiar route back to the starting point.

This Sunday a long hike through the Urdonautal. The route is very varied and relatively easy to walk. On the way you meet very few people, thus a real alternative to the tourist highlights with a lot of charm and safe to walk through the shady forests even in warmer temperatures.