Weidenblattweg

"Willow leaf trail" - circular hiking trail in the Adelsbachtal valley, Wallau/Lahn Signpost: "Black willow leaf on a white background" Directions clockwise. The starting point for the willow leaf trail is at the car park of the former indoor swimming pool in Wallau, which was built in the 1960s by the municipality at the time and was considered the most modern indoor swimming pool far and wide. It was closed in 2006 due to the risk of collapse and demolished in 2016. From there, the route first turns right along "Hallenbadstraße" and "Vorm Hahnrod" until it branches off into the Adelsbachtal valley. The water of the Adelsbach, which used to be called "Erisbach", was said to have healing properties in the past. In the Adelsbachtal valley, you come to a fork in the path after approx. 200 metres. There is a beautiful juniper heath. Take the right-hand path and walk up the Adelsbach valley, initially moderately and later only slightly uphill. Shortly before crossing the Adelsbach stream, you will pass a disused tunnel. This was driven into the mountain shortly after the end of the First World War, but roofing slate mining ceased after a short time. A little later, you reach the border between the "Faule Seite" district and the "Hermannsberg". It is said that there used to be frequent disputes with the neighbours from Puderbach in this area, mostly over forestry or hunting offences. There is an opportunity to rest at a seating area here. About 50 metres to the left, there is a beautiful view of Wittgenstein Castle above Bad Laasphe. The Weidenblattweg trail continues to the right and winds its way through beautiful beech forest below the "Hermannsberg" to the "Rödcheshain" district. Here, at the highest point of the circular trail (518 metres above sea level), it meets the Oak Leaf Trail and there is time to relax at the "Table and Benches" rest area. The "White Quarry" also invites you to discover and linger at this point. Gravel was mined here until the 1950s, which was used for road construction and in the ironworks in the area. There are also beautiful views of the mountains around the Hainbach valley and the Sackpfeife from here. From "Rödcheshain" you can also hike on towards "Didoll" or up the "Puderburg" (mountain above Puderbach with summit cross and summit book). From here, the Weidenblattweg continues to the right back towards Wallau and runs parallel to the Eichenblattweg for approx. 300 metres. Initially relatively flat, but soon descending moderately steeply, the path runs along the "Höllenstein" and soon reaches the "Auf dem Hahnrod" district with a large area of windthrow caused by hurricane Kyrill and views of "Gehnberg" and "Lange Hardt". In earlier times (Middle Ages) there is said to have been a place of judgement here. The Weidenblattweg continues down the valley, past the "Ferdinand-Fries-Eiche" (named after a Wallau district forester from 1945-1965), to Wallau. On the section between "Rödcheshain" and Wallau, there are always wonderful views into the Adelsbach valley, later also into the Lahn valley and Perftal valley  all the way to Breidenbach. You reach Wallau again on the road "Am Steinacker" with a beautiful view into the marvellous Hainbach valley. To the right, always along the edge of the forest, later through the field above the large sports hall and school, you return to the starting point at the indoor swimming pool car park.