Deep in the forest on the eastern slopes of the Taunus, near Ober-Mörlen, the Romans built a small fortlet known today as Eichkopf, after the wooded hill on which it stands. It was one of the many minor installations along the Upper Germanic-Raetian Limes, the frontier that separated the Roman Empire from the free Germanic tribes, and it housed a small detachment of soldiers who patrolled the line and manned the nearby watchtowers. The outline of the fortlet is still visible as a low rampart and ditch among the trees, and nearby, the line of the frontier itself, with its bank and ditch, can be traced through the forest. It is part of the World Heritage site of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire.
Walking along the Limes in these woods is a peaceful experience. Beech and oak trees tower overhead, the forest floor is covered with leaves and moss, and the only sounds are birds, the wind and perhaps a woodpecker. In autumn, the colours are spectacular, and in spring, the forest is filled with the fresh green of new leaves. The Limes hiking trail follows the line of the frontier through the Taunus, with information boards explaining the sites, and it can be combined with short walks from the road.
The Taunus forest roads are a delight for riders: narrow, winding roads through dense woods, with changes in elevation and occasional views over the Wetterau plain to the east and the Rhine-Main area to the south. The roads from Ober-Mörlen and Butzbach towards Usingen, crossing the ridge, are particularly enjoyable. Watch out for wildlife, especially deer and wild boar, which can appear suddenly at dawn and dusk, and for wet leaves and moss on the road in autumn and after rain. At weekends, the area is popular with walkers, cyclists and other riders, so take care on blind bends.
Ober-Mörlen, about four kilometres away, has fuel and a few shops, and Butzbach, a little further north, has a pretty half-timbered old town with cafés and restaurants around its market square. Further south, near Darmstadt, the Messel Pit, a World Heritage site famous for its exceptionally preserved fossils, including early horses no bigger than a dog, makes an interesting destination for a longer ride.