Sauerland-Höhenflug winter hike: over the Nordhelle and through wild moors

This winter hike begins at the "P5/Nordhelle" parking lot near the L 707. Numerous boards in a large sign hut provide information about hiking trails, the surrounding villages and winter sports around Nordhelle. From the parking lot, follow the road back a little towards the L 707 and then turn left onto hiking trail A2. This so-called "Alter Valberter Skiweg" leads through forests downhill towards Valbert. The A2 automatically joins the Sauerland-Höhenflug. Both hiking trails lead parallel back up to Nordhelle.Along the way, hikers experience fascinating and untouched nature as they cross the narrow wooden footbridge through the "Wilde Wiese" moorland area. The nature reserve is part of the Ebbemoore, which has been designated an FFH area due to its rarity. Many rare animal and plant species such as peat moss, cranberry, bog lily and the raised bog fritillary butterfly can be found in these hillside and spring moors (listen to the Sauerland-Höhenflug podcast!).The Höhenflug continues steadily uphill through the wild and romantic nature reserve. Below Nordhelle, the trail comes across a 250-year-old branded tree. The gnarled copper beech served as a border tree, marking the boundary of the Herscheid Mark. Here you now have the option of walking back to the parking lot via the A2 or following the Sauerland-Höhenflug further up to Nordhelle. At 663 m above sea level, it is the highest mountain in the Ebbegebirge. Next to a hiking restaurant is the Robert-Kolb-Turm on the summit, which was erected in 1913 and named after the then head hiking warden of the Sauerland Mountain Association. From here, you have a wonderful view over the Märkischer Kreis. The 130-metre-high WDR broadcasting tower is also located on the Nordhelle. After a well-earned break, you can easily hike back to the parking lot via the paved access road.The path is not cleared or rolled in winter. However, due to the high frequency of use, it is usually easy to walk in low to medium snow conditions.