Holzhausen an der Haide is a small village on the high ground of the western Taunus, between the Rhine and the Lahn, and it has one of the better-preserved Roman fort sites along the Limes. The stone walls of Kastell Holzhausen still stand to a modest height in the fields just outside the village, outlining the fort's rectangle with its rounded corners and gates. Watchtower WP 2/31 belongs to the chain of towers that linked forts like this one along the frontier, and in this open landscape you can easily imagine the signals passing from hill to hill.
The area around Holzhausen and Nastätten is known as the Blaues Ländchen, the little blue country, supposedly because of the blue flax flowers that once covered the fields. It is a rolling upland of farmland and forest, crossed by quiet roads, with distant views to the Hunsrück and Westerwald, and on a clear day the sky feels enormous.
The main road through here, the B260, is known as the Bäderstraße, the spa road, linking Bad Ems with Bad Schwalbach and Wiesbaden. It is a favourite with bikers for its long, flowing curves through forest and over hills, with a few tighter sections dropping into valleys. The surface is generally good, but there are speed limits and occasional controls, and weekend traffic can be heavy with motorcycles. The smaller roads leading down to the Rhine at St. Goarshausen and the Loreley rock, or to the Lahn valley at Nassau, are steep and twisty, with spectacular views. Spring and autumn are the best seasons, with less traffic and fresh air.
Nastätten, about four kilometres away, has fuel, a supermarket, bakeries and a few restaurants. For a more substantial break, ride down to the Rhine, where the towns of St. Goar, St. Goarshausen and Kaub have riverside terraces with views of castles and passing ships. Bad Schwalbach, about fourteen kilometres away, is an old spa town with elegant buildings and parks, and its mineral springs are known for their iron content. Local specialities include Riesling wine from the Rhine slopes and hearty dishes like Handkäs mit Musik, a tangy cheese served with onions and vinegar.