Hattinger Hügelland (Elfringhauser Switzerland)

The Hattinger Hügelland (or Elfringhauser Schweiz) is an area of about 15 x 15 kilometers between Essen and Wuppertal. The contrast to the surrounding urban area is great: you will find a very hilly landscape with deciduous trees and meadows, half-timbered houses, various farms (farms) partly with catering function and equestrian sports (riding stables, stables) is well represented here. It is therefore also popular with the townspeople from the surrounding area (for hiking, MTB or cycling), so it can be crowded here on Sundays and public holidays. For example, you should definitely avoid the K33 (Wodantal) (way too busy). Despite this, you can still find many quiet streets in this small area, which are often closed to traffic (with the exception of local residents). To make the route a little longer than 50 to 60 km, you will have to switch to surrounding areas, which are often urbanized or where there are busy thoroughfares. However, the cycle path along the Ruhr (on this route) and the railway line between Wuppertal and Hattingen , which has been converted into a cycle path (not on this route), offer good opportunities to extend the route via low-traffic or traffic-free roads.

The climbs in this area are mostly steep: they all go up to 12%, but there are also climbs that go up to 15% or even 20%. Most climbs have a height difference of about a hundred meters (sometimes up to 150 meters). However, the beautiful surroundings sometimes make you forget your legs. A single inner road is of moderate quality, but if you follow the route in one direction (counterclockwise), you will prevent descents over moderate road surfaces. Nevertheless, you have to be careful on the descents: The side roads are often narrow, and also very steep downhill, with sometimes very steep hairpin bends and yet also some places with bumpy asphalt.

The route starts at one of the many hiking car parks along Felderbachstraße, but can also be started from the Nierenhof or the car park on the Ruhr (to the Isenburg castle ruins).

Note: routeyou gives about 1200 meters of altitude, but the actual number of meters of altitude is between 1500 and 1600 meters!