Sauerland-Höhenflug winter hike: Around Küstelberg

The route starts in the high-altitude village of Küstelberg on the village square. In addition to the bus stop, there is also an impressive 500-year-old lime tree here, which is a kind of landmark of the village. Küstelberg is the highest part of the town of Medebach and was first mentioned in 1177. On your hike, first follow the Sauerland-Höhenflug towards Medelon. Shortly after the village is the source of the River Orke, whose valley you will hike through. You leave the Sauerland-Höhenflug right at the end of the village and hike to the right on an unmarked connecting path into the Orketal valley. The forests in the upper section of the Orke are a nature reserve. The Glindfeld forest reserve is characterized by extensive beech forests of various ages, with alluvial forests and natural watercourses in between.850 m after you have crossed one of these streams, follow the path for another 850 m and then turn sharp right. After a further 430 m, you will come to the E1 hiking trail, which leads back along the Orke to just below the source of the Orke. If you like, you can follow it around the village: Follow the road Am Sonnenhang, cross Winterberg Straße and join the Rothaarsteig. Turn right after the wind power station. Follow the K3 on the edge of the village back to the starting point of the hike.