Why this ride
A 312 km round trip from Wachtberg - roughly 4 h 20 in the saddle. The stops in between: Watchtowers WP 1/58 to 1/59, Watchtower WP 3/4* and back through Watchtowers WP 1/58 to 1/59. The line favours views over speed.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Kottenforst Süd | Villiper Bach and Watchtower WP 3/4*
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 312 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 4 h 20
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
Ordered leg totals agree within rounding. Stop distances are approximate sums of rounded legs. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Kottenforst Süd | Villiper Bach
South of Bonn, between the Rhine and the Eifel foothills, the Kottenforst is a big forest that most people drive around and few really enter. For centuries it was a hunting forest of the Electors of Cologne, who ran straight rides through the trees for their parties, and some of those long avenues survive as forest tracks. Oak and beech dominate, with ponds and damp hollows where the Villiper Bach, a small stream, begins its journey toward the Rhine. In spring the floor is carpeted with wood anemones, and in autumn the leaf litter smells sharp and sweet.
Read the complete Kottenforst Süd | Villiper Bach write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Kottenforst Süd | Villiper Bach is where the day begins. Next is Watchtowers WP 1/58 to 1/59.
2. Watchtowers WP 1/58 to 1/59
The Upper German-Raetian Limes began its long march across Germany on the banks of the Rhine at Rheinbrohl, and climbed from there into the hills of the Westerwald. The stretch between Watchtowers 1/58 and 1/59, near Höhr-Grenzhausen, is part of this first section, where the frontier ran through forests and over hills above the Rhine valley. Remains are scarce here, perhaps a mound or a line in the forest floor, but the Limes path follows the route, and information boards explain the history.
Read the complete Watchtowers WP 1/58 to 1/59 write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Watchtowers WP 1/58 to 1/59 comes up about 81 km into the recorded legs. Next is Watchtower WP 3/4*.
3. Watchtower WP 3/4*
In the western Taunus, between Bad Schwalbach and Taunusstein, the forest is thick and the hills roll gently, and the Upper German Limes runs along the ridge here as a still visible bank and ditch. The site labelled Watchtower WP 3/4 is one of the many small posts along this section, and a few kilometres to the east, near Taunusstein-Orlen, the fort of Zugmantel guarded a crossing of the frontier on an old trade route into Germanic territory. These remains are part of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage site, and a walk along the Limes trail through the forest here is peaceful and atmospheric.
Read the complete Watchtower WP 3/4* write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 159 km into the recorded legs you reach Watchtower WP 3/4*. Next is back through Watchtowers WP 1/58 to 1/59.
4. back through Watchtowers WP 1/58 to 1/59
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Watchtowers WP 1/58 to 1/59 write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Watchtowers WP 1/58 to 1/59, late in the day. Next is Kottenforst Süd | Villiper Bach.
5. Kottenforst Süd | Villiper Bach
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Kottenforst Süd | Villiper Bach write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Back at Kottenforst Süd | Villiper Bach. That is the ride.
Leg by leg
Kottenforst Süd | Villiper Bach to Watchtowers WP 1/58 to 1/59
Kottenforst Süd | Villiper Bach → Watchtowers WP 1/58 to 1/59 is 81 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Watchtowers WP 1/58 to 1/59 to Watchtower WP 3/4*
Watchtowers WP 1/58 to 1/59 → Watchtower WP 3/4* is 78 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Watchtower WP 3/4* to back through Watchtowers WP 1/58 to 1/59
Watchtower WP 3/4* → back through Watchtowers WP 1/58 to 1/59 is 72 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Watchtowers WP 1/58 to 1/59 to Kottenforst Süd | Villiper Bach
back through Watchtowers WP 1/58 to 1/59 → Kottenforst Süd | Villiper Bach is 80 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.