Discovery loop Traces of the coal drivers

The discovery loop leads from the 3rd stage of the neanderland STEIGs to Velbert-Langenberg. The path leads through the natural and romantic Windrather Valley, past meadows and fields that are cultivated by farmers according to organic farming criteria.

The coal driver's paths from Essen-Kupferdreh via Velbert-Nierenhof and -Langenberg to Wuppertal-Dönberg and into the Bergisches Land previously led past these farms. The coal driver routes were the first transport routes of the early hard coal mining. The laborious transport of the black gold was carried out on horseback. Steep inclines had to be overcome, often the horse and coal driver could only walk one behind the other.

A part of the coal driver's path was replaced in 1831 by the "Prinz-Wilhelm-Bahn" railway line in the valley. Horses pulled the wagons from Kupferdreh to Kidney. Only with the extension to Wuppertal-Vohwinkel in 1847 were these replaced by steam locomotives. The paths of the coal drivers remained and are a reminder of this past.