Russell Hafter Holidays - The Harz Witches Trail

For enquiries about this holiday please telephone 01946 861652

The Harz Witches Trail 2008

This tour is not described in our brochure

The route starts along old trade routes, then crosses the wetlands of the Upper Harz before entering the Harz National Park and climbing the Brocken, which has enormous spiritual importance for the German people. From the eastern edge of the National Park you enter what was once one of Germany's main mining regions, producing silver, lead and iron. Continuing along old charcoal burners' tracks, the route ends along the romantic narrow gorge of the Bode Valley. While there is some overlap with the A Walk across the Harz tour that we have offered for a few years now, this is limited to the last 16 miles of the this walk. However, as this stretch of the route more than any other benefits from being walked in both directions, this presents few problems to those who are on the look out for something new.
To fit in with the needs of walkers of varying levels of fitness we offer walking tours of four, five or seven stages, all over the full route and with baggage transfer. On the four stage version, the longest day is the last, at a little over 16 miles, though almost all downhill. On the seven stage version, the longest stretch is the descent of the Brocken over 10 miles. The route starts at Osterode on the south western edge of the Harz, so the first day is always going to be one with a significant amount of uphill walking. Equally, the second day (third day for those doing the walk in seven stages), which ends at the top of the Brocken, requires over 1600 feet of ascent. After that, though, the route is predominantly downhill, with just a few small uphill stages.
The Harz Witches Trail in Seven Stages Day 1. Arrive in Osterode. Day 2. Walk uphill from Osterode to the Eselsplatz - where pack trains used to rest after climbing the western scarp of the Harz. After passing a medieval mining village arrive in Buntenbock (about 8¼ miles, 1250 feet of ascent)

Day 3. From Buntenbock the trail leads across the high level wetlands of the western Harz with its numerous ponds to the town of Altenau (about 9 miles, 150 feet of ascent). This area was developed in late medieval times as a source of water power for the industries developing in the valleys below. The whole system today is a protected area. Day 4.Leave Altenau and walk to the Forster Ludwigs Platz rest area where you enter the Harz National Park. From here there is a steady climb to Torfhaus. From here you can see the Brocken rising dramatically in front to you, and until 1989 you could sit in the car park here and train your binoculars on the Soviet and German Democratic Republic observation stations on the summit. From Torfhaus you continue to climb to the summit of the Brocken (about 9½ miles, 1650 feet of ascent). Day 5. From the summit you walk steadily downhill, soon entering dense forest. The route follows the Glassmaker's Way past dramatic cliffs down to Drei Annen Hohne. Here you leave the National Park and follow a stream downhill to a waterfall, ending in Königshütte (about 10 miles, no significant ascent). Day 6. A gentle stroll following the exertions of the last couple of days. However, there is plenty to see! First the ruins of the 13th and 14th century Königsburg, then the confluence of the two branches of the River Bode and the nearby remains of the former hunting lodge of the Ottonian and Salian Emperors of the 9th and 10th centuries, whose wealth was based on silver from the Harz. Continue over the Brockenblick viewpoint to Rübeland, where there is a fine limestone showcave (about 6 miles, 150 feet of ascent).

Day 7. From Rübeland you walk over the Kuhberg to the dramatic (even though artificial) lake of the Rappodetalsperre to Altenbrak (about 7½ miles, 250 feet of ascent). Day 8. Walk through the nature reserve at the western end of the Bode Valley, then continue along the river to Thale (about 10 miles, no significant ascent).

The Harz Witches Trail in Five Stages
Day 1. Arrive in Osterode.

Day 2. Walk uphill from Osterode to the Eselsplatz - where pack trains used to rest after climbing the western scarp of the Harz. After passing a medieval mining village continue through Buntenbock across the high level wetlands of the western Harz with its numerous ponds to the town of Dammhaus (about 13½ miles, 1250 feet of ascent)
This area was developed in late medieval times as a source of water power for the industries developing in the valleys below. The whole system today is a protected area.

Day 3. Leave Dammhaus. Walk past Altenau and walk to the Forster Ludwigs Platz rest area where you enter the Harz National Park. From here there is a steady climb to Torfhaus.
From here you can see the Brocken rising dramatically in front to you, and until 1989 you could sit in the car park here and train your binoculars on the Soviet and German Democratic Republic observation stations on the summit.
From Torfhaus you continue to climb to the summit of the Brocken (about 13½ miles, 1650 feet of ascent)

Day 4. From the summit you walk steadily downhill, soon entering dense forest. The route follows the Glassmaker's Way past dramatic cliffs down to Drei Annen Hohne. Here you leave the National Park and follow a stream downhill to a waterfall, ending in Königshütte (about 10 miles, no significant ascent).

Day 5. A stage with plenty to see! First the ruins of the 13th and 14th century Königsburg, then the confluence of the two branches of the River Bode and the nearby remains of the former hunting lodge of the Ottonian and Salian Emperors of the 9th and 10th centuries, whose wealth was based on silver from the Harz. Continue over the Brockenblick viewpoint to Rübeland, where there is a fine limestone showcave. The route continues over the Kuhberg to the dramatic (even though artificial) lake of the Rappodetalsperre to Altenbrak (about 13½ miles, 400 feet of ascent).

Day 6. Walk through the nature reserve at the western end of the Bode Valley, then continue along the river to Thale (about 10 miles, no significant ascent).

The Harz Witches Trail in Four Stages Day 1. Arrive in Osterode. Day 2. Walk uphill from Osterode to the Eselsplatz - where pack trains used to rest after climbing the western scarp of the Harz. After passing a medieval mining village continue through Buntenbock across the high level wetlands of the western Harz with its numerous ponds to the town of Dammhaus (about 13½ miles, 1250 feet of ascent) This area was developed in late medieval times as a source of water power for the industries developing in the valleys below. The whole system today is a protected area. Day 3. Leave Dammhaus. Walk past Altenau and walk to the Forster Ludwigs Platz rest area where you enter the Harz National Park. From here there is a steady climb to Torfhaus. From here you can see the Brocken rising dramatically in front to you, and until 1989 you could sit in the car park here and train your binoculars on the Soviet and German Democratic Republic observation stations on the summit. From Torfhaus you continue to climb to the summit of the Brocken (about 13½ miles, 1650 feet of ascent)

Day 4. From the summit you walk steadily downhill, soon entering dense forest. The route follows the Glassmaker's Way past dramatic cliffs down to Drei Annen Hohne. Here you leave the National Park and follow a stream downhill to a waterfall, then to Königshütte. Pass the ruins of the 13th and 14th century Königsburg, then the confluence of the two branches of the River Bode and the nearby remains of the former hunting lodge of the Ottonian and Salian Emperors of the 9th and 10th centuries, whose wealth was based on silver from the Harz. Continue over the Brockenblick viewpoint to end at Rübeland, where there is a fine limestone showcave (about 16 miles, 150 feet of ascent). Day 5. The route continues over the Kuhberg to the dramatic (even though artificial) lake of the Rappodetalsperre to Altenbrak. Then through the nature reserve at the western end of the Bode Valley, then continue along the river to Thale (about 17 miles, 250 feet of ascent).

Tour Details: 5, 6 or 8 nights Bed & Breakfast in hotels, inns and pensions, in rooms with shower/WC. Extra nights may be taken at the beginning or the end. Baggage transfer.

Dates: Available from May to October.
Please Note:The hotel on the top of the Brocken is understandably very popular, particularly at weekends. This means it is difficult to book this tour if you want to start on a Wednesday. Tours HHS/5 and HHS/6 are also difficult to arrange starting on a Thursday, tour HHS/8 is difficult to arrange starting on a Tuesday.

An alternative to staying at the Brocken hotel when starting on one of these days is accommodation at the eastern foot of the mountain, in Schierke, with a transfer from the summit to the hotel at the end of the day's walk, and a transfer back to the top the next morning.

Tour Code: HHS/6 (six night tour)

2008 Tour Price: Rail via Brussels/Cologne - £565
2008 Tour Price: Self Drive via Harwich-Hoek van Holland - £425
2008 Tour Price: From Hannover Airport - £386
2008 Tour Price: From Berlin Airport - £399
2008 Tour Price: Single Supplement - £66

Tour Code: HHS/5 (five night tour) - deduct £49 from above prices
Tour Code: HHS/5 single supplement - £57
Tour Code: HHS/8 (eight night tour) - add £98 to above prices
Tour Code: HHS/8 single supplement - £84

Please note that these single supplements apply where a minimum of 2 people book.
Please ask for the supplements for an individual walker.

Please check our travel page for information on other ways of travelling to your holiday.

Please contact us for prices when using one of these other routes, and also for single supplements for an individual walker, child discounts and so on.

Our telephone number is 01946 861652.

Return to Harz Mountains

Send a booking request for this holiday

When you click on the above link, a partially completed e-mail window will open, providing a number of blanks which you should complete before sending the e-mail.

Among the information requested is a contact telephone number. On receipt of your e-mail, someone will telephone you to double check the arrangements you wish to book, as well as to take details of a credit or debit card, which will be used to pay the initial deposit.

We look forward to hearing from you.