Lochtrop: Highland Games and the Wenne Landscape

In Lochtrop, a recurring event, routes to Frielinghausen and landscapes with distinct characteristics come together. When planning a stay, the village therefore offers several specific points of interest: Scottish competitions, routes and the Wenne and its tributaries.

Highland Games and routes to Frielinghausen

Highland Games have been held in Lochtrop since 2016. Every two years, the local Highlander Verein invites visitors to the Erves-Scheune. There, men and women compete in Scottish contests. The biennial schedule and clearly named venue give this event a distinct place in village life.

Two routes can also be clearly distinguished by how they relate to Lochtrop. The Eslohe Family Tour goes through Lochtrop to Frielinghausen. The first stage of the Eslohe Grenzgänger runs from Schartmecke to Frielinghausen and passes Lochtrop before reaching Frielinghausen. One route goes through the village, while the other passes by it. Both descriptions name Frielinghausen as the destination of their respective routes; no details about distance or duration are provided.

Grassland and the Wenne Landscape

The “Open Land Areas West and South of Lochtrop” landscape conservation area covers 4.5 hectares. It includes slopes used as grassland on the western edge of the village, as well as grassland in the southern area. The aim is to preserve the severely restricted open space between the settled area and the extensive surroundings characterised by woodland and Christmas tree plantations. The description thus connects the location of these areas with their importance as open landscape.

The “Wenne and Tributary near Lochtrop” landscape conservation area consists of two sections totalling 16.4 hectares. In this area, the Wenne meanders largely freely and is lined with trees and shrubs along some stretches. The source hollow of the tributary is used exclusively as grassland. Other named areas are “Alluvial Forests / Running Waters South of Lochtrop,” covering 1.508 hectares, and “Running Waters from Frielinghausen to Lochtrop,” covering 0.845 hectares. The different names and areas help distinguish the individual landscape descriptions.

Insights into Local History

Two dates point to the shared religious history of the villages involved. On 7 November 1919, Bremke, Frielinghausen, Lochtrop and Husen founded a Sankt-Antonius-Sammelverein (St Anthony collection association). The collections were intended to raise the funds needed to establish Catholic church services in Bremke. In 1948, Frielinghausen, Lochtrop, Husen and Bremke formed the Pfarrvikarie St. Antonius Eins. m.e.V., a parish vicariate with its own asset management. These two milestones show the difference in timing between the joint fundraising and the later establishment of a parish vicariate.

Regional Context: Eslohe (Sauerland)

In the wider travel destination of Eslohe (Sauerland), Eslohe is located in the Sauerland-Rothaargebirge Nature Park and is also a state-recognised climatic health resort. The DampfLandLeute Museum is located in a side valley there. Its permanent exhibition covers agriculture, forestry, village crafts, folklore and technology. On steam days, historic steam engines are operated at least twice a year.

From April to October, the DampfLandLeute Museum’s railway runs with a diesel locomotive from 3 to 5 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month. As seasonal operating arrangements may change, check the current timetable before visiting. For cyclists, the 84-kilometre SauerlandRadring is another regional attraction: it connects Finnentrop, Lennestadt, Schmallenberg and Eslohe, follows a former railway line and is designed for families and touring cyclists. This regional perspective complements the specific route connections around Lochtrop without implying that they follow the same course as the cycle route.

Discover more destinations: Reiste, Wenholthausen, Cobbenrode, Niedersalwey.

View the wider travel overview: Eslohe.