recommended route
Gernsdorfer Weidekämpe – meadows east of Wilnsdorf-Gernsdorf
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Arbeitsgemeinschaft Biologischer Umweltschutz im Kreis Soest e.V Verified partner
Arbeitsgemeinschaft Biologischer Umweltschutz im Kreis Soest e.V Verified partner
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Gernsdorfer WeidekämpePhoto: Ursula Siebel
The Gernsdorfer Weidekämpe Nature Reserve in Siegerland is a meadow complex abounding in flowering plants. Such meadows have survived here because traditional land-use practices are still used today.
easy
Distance 4 km
1:05 h
93 m
93 m
480 m
390 m
From extensive wet and moist meadows, lowland and mountain hay meadows, nutrient-poor meadows and pastures to Mat Grass fields – the great diversity of grassland types in the Gernsdorfer Weidekämpe Nature Reserve is something special. The term Weidekämpe relates to a large pasture that was created on a cleared area of so-called "Hauberg" coppice forest in the 19th century.
Because the area lies in a transition altitude zone, hay meadow types of lowland and hilly country (Tall Oat Grass meadows) occur in the immediate vicinity of mountain hay meadows (Golden Oat Grass meadows). The higher-growing Tall Oat Grass meadows with Meadow Fescue or Tall Oat Grass are full of such meadow flowers as Bluebells, Daisies and Field Scabious. The flowers populating the shorter Golden Oat Grass meadows are Cranesbill, Hedge Bedstraw and Bistort.
Rare grassland birds of the area are Whinchat and Meadow Pipit. As ground-nesting birds, these can only breed successfully if the meadows are not mown in the breeding season, as is the case here in the reserve.
Author’s recommendation
The summer months from May to mid-July offer a unique experience in years that didn’t have a late spring frost, as thousands of Greater Butterfly Orchids and Heath Spotted Orchids then come into bloom in the meadows and pastures.
Author
Ursula Siebel
Update: February 21, 2022
Difficulty
easy
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
480 m
Lowest point
390 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Track types
Asphalt
0.5 km
Dirt road
2.8 km
Forested/wild trail
0.1 km
Path
0.4 km
Road
0.2 km
Safety information
keine AngabeTips and hints
A leaflet describing the area can be downloaded from www.biologische-station-siegen-wittgenstein.de.Start
Coordinates:
DD
50.845235, 8.188102
DMS
50°50'42.8"N 8°11'17.2"E
UTM
32U 442840 5632928
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Turn-by-turn directions
The small area can easily be explored on foot. The circular trail (about four kilometres long) is one of the audio paths on the Rothaarsteig trail and offers the possibility of calling up audio texts via a QR code at points of interest. The trail starts at the information boards and leads gently uphill in a southward direction. As you continue to follow the trail uphill, the Tall Oat Grass meadows are replaced by Golden Oat Grass meadows, and later there are extensive areas of Mat-Grass to the left of the trail. Continuing along the trail, you have views of the Weidekamp which is criss-crossed here by the headwaters of numerous streams You also experience a floodplain forest area and a low mountain stream. From the Gernsdorfer Weidekämpe, you can also reach the Rothaarsteig trail.
By road
Driving eastward out of Gernsdorf on the Marburger/Koblenzer Straße, the area is located about halfway up the hill on the country road.Address for satnavs: no localisation possible
GPS (UTM): 32 U 442681, 5632870
Google coordinates: 50.845217, 8.188045
Parking
There are a few parking spaces along the country road. You can also park at the sports field in Gernsdorf.Coordinates
DD
50.845235, 8.188102
DMS
50°50'42.8"N 8°11'17.2"E
UTM
32U 442840 5632928
w3w
///anteater.instance.claim
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike
Book recommendation by the author
Buch „Naturschätze Südwestfalens entdecken“ (ISBN: 9783000481215)
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Reviews
Difficulty
easy
Distance
4 km
Duration
1:05 h
Ascent
93 m
Descent
93 m
Highest point
480 m
Lowest point
390 m
Statistics
2D
3D
Maps and trails
- 11 Waypoints
- 11 Waypoints
Distance
km
Duration
: h
Ascent
m
Descent
m
Highest point
m
Lowest point
m
Questions and answers
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Rating
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