Waterfall: Plästerlegge and Nature Experience

Plästerlegge is central to the natural character of the Wasserfall destination. For planning your visit, access is important: from the car park on Aurorastraße in Wasserfall, it takes about 20 minutes to walk to the waterfall. It is accessible on foot only; the path is unsuitable for pushchairs.

Plästerlegge: Access, Rock Face and Natural Conditions

In the wider Bestwig travel destination, Plästerlegge near Bestwig-Wasserfall is the only natural waterfall in North Rhine-Westphalia. The water drops about 20 m almost vertically over a rock ledge and then continues for around 500 m as a torrent. After longer dry spells, the waterfall may dry up; during the summer half of the year, vegetation may limit visibility. If seeing the water is important to you, take both conditions into account when setting your expectations for the visit.

The access route includes a rest area below the falls and information boards about the flora and the Plästerlegge nature reserve. This means your visit can focus not only on the waterfall, but also on the plant life and the nature reserve.

Hiking in the Wider Bestwig Travel Destination

There are various routes to choose from for hikes in the wider Bestwig travel destination. The Bestwiger Panoramaweg is around 60 km long and runs along the municipality’s ridges. You can start from any district of Bestwig. The trail has been awarded the German Hiking Association’s “Qualitätsweg Wanderbares Deutschland” (Quality Trail: Hiker-friendly Germany) certification four times in a row.

The Bestwiger BestWege are varied circular hiking trails around Andreasberg, Heringhausen, Nuttlar, Ostwig, Ramsbeck and Velmede-Bestwig. With walking times of two to four hours, they are suitable for half-day hikes. The approximately 10 km-long Bergbau-Wanderweg in Ramsbeck focuses on mining: it passes numerous mining relics and former mine sites. The signposted route starts at the Sauerländer Besucherbergwerk on Glück-Auf-Straße. The routes therefore differ both in their thematic focus and in the walking times given for the BestWege and the length of the Bergbau-Wanderweg.

More Experiences in Bestwig

In the wider Bestwig travel destination, FORT FUN Abenteuerland is located at Aurorastraße 50, 59909 Bestwig-Wasserfall. Its attractions for children and adults include a roller coaster, a log flume, an alpine coaster, a flying dragon ride, a Ferris wheel, an indoor playground and a show programme. So, in addition to nature and hiking, there is also an amusement park with rides and shows to choose from.

At the Sauerländer Besucherbergwerk in Ramsbeck, an electric mine train travels around 1.5 km through the dark Eickhoffstollen. Bus route R72 runs regularly from Bestwig station to the mine; the “Ramsbeck-Ziegelwiese” stop is right outside. If you plan to travel by bus, check the timetable before your trip.

Another cultural and historical stop in the wider Bestwig travel destination is the Alte Kornmühle in Ramsbeck. It is the only surviving mill in North Rhine-Westphalia with three grinding stations and medieval technology. Every year on Whit Monday, International Mill Day, it opens to visitors. The mill festival offers free guided tours; during the milling demonstration, you can watch water power being used to grind grain into flour. Check the date before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Valme, Berlar, Andreasberg

Go to the wider travel overview: Bestwig.