Monastery path

After taking a look at the hiking board, we take the footpath to the northern entrance to the monastery grounds, the medieval Agatha Gate for the Grafschaft population. This avoids a long walk along the main road and allows us to get to know the monastery grounds from the inside. After just under 100 m, we turn right and leave the monastery grounds through the large archway - the Tannenpforte - to the left, heading west. As our path is not part of the hiking trail network of the Schmallenberg Sauerland, we pay attention to the black plates that the Grafschaft-Schanze tourist office has placed in many places.Behind the archway, the asphalt road leads slightly uphill. We bypass the private property to the west. At the next two forks in the road, we take the left-hand path. The path is always moderately steep uphill. After a total distance of 1 km, our footpath joins a cross-path. With the exception of a few meters in altitude, we have now completed the ascent on the Klosterweg. The view extends far in the direction of Schmallenberg and the 658 m high Wilzenberg. The monastery complex is in the foreground.We follow the path on the left for about 70 m to the north and then turn right onto a path with a row of trees on the northern side, which only climbs very slightly. At 465 m, we reach the highest point of the monastery trail here. A narrow bend leads us into the narrow valley of the Stameske. We pay attention to the path markings and cross the Stameske. We have already reached the edge of the built-up area and follow the road "Am Stünzel" for a short distance.The Handirkweg joins from the right, which takes you to the source of the Grafschaft. A few meters below, the Klosterweg turns left and we are back on the grounds of the Grafschaft monastery. We continue along the northern edge of the convent pond, which is fed by the Stameske. This stream supplied the monastery kitchen with fresh water in the Middle Ages.Finally, we leave the monastery grounds via the same path that we already know from the outward route and return to the starting point in the center of the village after about 2.5 km. At the end of the tour, we can take a break in the small park in front of the tourist information office.