Kahler Asten and the Lenne spring from Altastenberg

The walk starts from the free car park P4 Westfalenhang II in Altastenberg, a village of Winterberg in the Hochsauerland. It passes the Haus des Gastes and follows the Kurweg along the slope to the Nordhang, then climbs across the Hochheide, the open mountain heath on top, to the Kahler Asten (841.9 m) and the Astenturm. The summit has refreshments, an information centre and a weather station of the German Weather Service.

From the top the line runs south along the ridge to the Landwehr, a medieval defensive rampart, and drops to the Lenneplätze and into the valley of the young Lenne. A forest track follows the valley, and a path climbs back out of it to the Lenne spring, which rises near the summit at about 820 m and runs only now and then, and on by the Sahnehang to Altastenberg. It is 10.7 km with 252 m of ascent; allow about 3¼ hours. The grade is Moderate. Winterberg's own circuit from the Haus des Gastes, the Kahler-Asten-Weg (As4), is 9.6 km with 179 m of ascent and about 3 hours; ours is longer because it takes in the spring and the valley track.

The top is an open plateau, so wind, mist and cold can come in at any season: Winterberg advises sturdy footwear and clothes for the weather and the time of year. The Hochheide is a nature reserve of about 49 hectares, kept open by sheep grazing, so keep to the paths.

Winterberg says parking in Altastenberg is free, and that buses S40 and 451 serve Altastenberg (times at rlg-online.de). About 17% of the line is on streets: the village streets of Altastenberg at both ends, the lane by the Landwehr and the road at the summit; the rest is on forest tracks and paths.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.