• 11,47 km long
  • Difficulty: medium
  • Condition: medium
  • Great panorama
  • regional hiking trail
  • 3: 10 pm
  • 11,47 km
  • 238 m
  • 233 m
  • 144 m
  • 258 m
  • 114 m
  • Start: Dorfstrasse in Wülfrath-Düssel
  • Destination: Neviges S-Bahn station in Velbert-Neviges

Romantic landscape and sacred architecture

Church spires and Bergisch-style rooftops rise like pointed caps from the green hills in the Düssel district of Wülfrath. Along the way, hikers discover not only the source of the Düssel River but also the sunny yellow, horseshoe-shaped outer bailey of Hardenberg Castle, complete with its manor house. The stage ends in the pilgrimage town of Velbert-Neviges with the impressive architecture of the Mariendom (Cathedral of St. Mary), which rises like a stone mountain range by the roadside. Its facade of asymmetrical concrete blocks in the Brutalist style forms a fascinating contrast to the warm red light streaming through the windows inside.

Important notes: Hardenberg Castle and the outdoor area are undergoing extensive renovation work until the end of 2026. The interior of the castle cannot therefore be entered and the outdoor area can only be accessed with restrictions. There may be short-term changes to the route around Hardenberg Castle. 

neanderland STEIG
© Kreis Mettmann
neanderland STEIG

Start
Start
Dorfstrasse in Wülfrath-Dussel
Two people ride bicycles along a street, past half-timbered houses and a church in Wülfrath-Düssel.
Historic town center of Düssel
  • Historical city center
A restaurant employee serves drinks to two guests on a terrace in the sunny beer garden.

Best Season

suitable
depending on the weather

Tour features

  • refreshment possibility

Equipment

Good hiking shoes should already be. Depending on the season and the weather, a jacket is a must along the many cool streams and in the deep forests, as well as on the often windy heights.

Arrival & Parking

How to find us
Use the app's arrival navigator or your navigation device

Parking
Parking at the start:
P+R S-Bahn car park Aprath
Parking spaces in Wülfrath-Düssel
Parking at the destination:
P+R car park in Velbert-Neviges
Parking in Velbert Neviges

Public transportation
Public transport at the start:
S-Bahn Aprath: S 9 via marked access route 1,5 km
Bus: Düsseldorf with line 641

Public transport to the destination:
S-Bahn station Neviges: S 9
Bus: Neviges Markt / Train Station with lines 627, 647 and 649
Public transport back to the start:
S-Bahn S 9 to Wülfrath-Aprath, from there via 1,5 km access road to Düssel or S-Bahn S 9 to Wuppertal-Vohwinkel, then bus line 641 to Düssel

author

Office for Culture and Tourism
Düsseldorfer Strasse 26
40822 Mettmann

safety instructions

Please stay on the paths. The narrow paths can be slippery in places, especially in wet weather. Be careful with embankments or cliff edges, keep your distance.

The beer garden of the Kleine Schweiz restaurant in Velbert features wooden tables under trees in front of a half-timbered backdrop.