Tag Archives: Nutshell,

Chemin des Vignes: Trail in a Nutshell

May 1, 2020 admin

Trail Name: Chemin des Vignes (AKA : Circuit 5)

Trail Type: Mid-distance circuit; well-maintained and with a variety of surfaces from rough and scree to tarmac. While trail-specific signage can vary (see below), overall marking on the trail is rather good.

Length:

Total – 11.5 kilometers/7 miles

Convenient to: Beaune, France

Marking:

Painted yellow bar(s) indicating trail and/or direction, and sometimes a yellow number 5; the occasional yellow sign with a black number 5 on it; yellow signs on posts with black letters indicating PR 5.

Trail Description: This trail has a great variety of terrain, elevation, scenery, and flora, all along a relatively easy circuit trail that circles the small town of Savigny-les Beaune and its well-known vineyards.

Trailhead:

Official: Savigny-les-Beaune, Rue des Chanterives

Alternate: Rue General Leclerc x Rue Soeur Gaby

Parking:

Savigny-les-Beaune: Rue des Chanterives x Route de Bouilland/D2(opposite camping site)

Savigny-les-Beaune: Limited parking along the street of Rue General Leclerc

Public Transportation Options:

Bus: The Cote&Bus company runs Line 10 round-trip from Beaune to Savigny-les-Beaune. It appears to service a school route, as well as commuters into Beaune, so be sure to check the website (www.coteetbus.fr) for changes or required reservations.

Rail: Nearest rail service is in nearby Beaune

Suggested Stages: Not applicable

Trail Itinerary-Reference Points: (North-South/Clockwise)

Savigny-les-Beaune: Chemin des Vermots, also seen on some maps as Chemin de la Grande Chaume, right onto a straight trail through woods all uphill, vineyards, then a long stretch through forest; Cross Chemin de Citeaux, along the Combe de Barboron (a vale), follow R du Jarron about 150 meters uphill, turn right through vines, then forest; downhill between walls to picnic table, downhill on the agricultural road/C7; Savigny-les-Beaune: southeast on R Dr. Guyot/D2, R des Porches, R Soeur Gaby, cross the creek and continue straight onto a grass path), past sports fields (fighter jet collection on the right), R des Combattants, R Chanoine Donin-Chemin des Carrieres, parallel the highway for about 400 meters; through forest; downhill on R des Fatains, R des Petites Chanterives

Representative Trail Photos:

Restrooms:

None observed!

Attractions on or near Trail:

Chateau de Savigny has a museum with collections pertaining to wine and agricultural vehicles, as well as Abarth racing vehicles and fighter jets.

Tasting along the Trail:

Several wineries in town, and at the chateau.

Alternative Options:

Hiking: Beaune has several hikes around its vineyards, just south of Savigny. For an idea of one of them, see the Nutshell here. See others at http://www.beaune-rando-vigne.com/fr/circuits-vignoble-beaune/

Biking: Veloroute Voie des Vignes, an approximately 30-kilometer-long trail from Beaune to Santenay to Nolay, mostly on dedicated bike path!

Additional Information:

Regional: https://www.beaune-tourism.com/

Trail specific: https://www.beaune-tourism.com/ideas-for-round-trips/circuit-5-the-chemin-des-vignes-vine-route-615157

Comments:

A great hike for even people only moderately in shape, in an unspoiled Cote de Beaune wine village.

Germany, Hiking, Nutshell

Silvaner Erlebnisweg: Trail in a Nutshell

April 11, 2020 admin

Trail Name: Silvaner Erlebnisweg

Trail Type: Short distance circuit trail; well-maintained and almost exclusively paved, marking on the trail good in most places

Length:

Total – 6.8 kilometers/4.25 miles

Convenient to: Volkach, or Kitzingen, Germany

Marking:

Look for two types.

Green hills, blue river and white ferry on a which square background.

White letter C on a square, red(dish) background (indicating where the Silvaner Erlebnisweg diverges from the principle or other trails).

Trail Description:

The trail leads through mostly unshaded vineyards situated on gently rolling terrain in the Maindreieck, on primarily agricultural service lanes. This easy hike affords ample opportunities to admire distant vistas over the Main River valley, and plenty of benches (and the occasional picnic table) from which to enjoy them.

Trailhead:

Obereisenheim – An der Mainau/Dorfstrasse

Parking:

Obereisenheim – An der Mainau

Public Transportation Options:

Bus: The Frankenbus 8110 services this area from Kitzingen and Volkach. Check VVM (Verkehrsverbund Mainfranken) and VGN (Verkehrsverbund Grossraum Nuernberg) websites for schedules and routes.

Suggested Stages:

Trail Itinerary-Reference Points: (Counterclockwise)

Obereisenheim: Hintergasse, Marktplatz, Wipfelderstr, Setzweg, Buehlweg, cross Schwanfelder Strasse; Vineyards; back across Schwanfelder Strasse; long vineyard loop (almost to Dipbacherstr); Hertleinsbergweg, Bergstr

Representative Trail Photos:

Restrooms:

None observed

Attractions on or near Trail:

WG Hirn is a winery designed in the Hundertwasser architectural style, and has acclaimed red and GG Silvaner wines!

Tasting along the Trail:

Weingut (WG) Jung, WG Schuler, WG Kramer, WG Reich, WG Ruegamer, in addition to WG Hirn, lie either directly on or near the trail.

Alternative Options:

Hiking: In nearby Fahr, the Obst-Wein-Main trail/Trail D circuit offers a short (3.5 kilometer) and a long (9.8 kilometer) version.

Biking: Eisenheim is on one of Germany’s favorite bike trails, the Main Radweg. Its itinerary follows mostly along the Main River for about 340 kilometers to the Rhine River at Wiesbaden, much of it on dedicated bike path. See the Nutshell here.

Additional Information:

Regional: https://www.frankentourismus.de/orte/eisenheim-169/

Trail specific: http://www.wandermap.net/de/route/3493744-silvaner-erlebnisweg-markt-eisenheim/#/z11/49.8300104,10.1214981/terrain

Comments:

The ferries at Obereisenheim and nearby Fahr make a fun three-minute Main River crossing for hikers and bikers in the area.

Hiking, Nutshell, Switzerland

Worrenberg Weinwanderweg: Trail in a Nutshell

April 1, 2020 admin

Trail Name: Worrenberg Weinwanderweg (AKA: Weinwanderweg am Worrenberg)

Trail Type: Short-distance trail; well-maintained and asphalt or hard-packed surfaces, marking on the trail is okay

Length:

Total – about 3 kilometers/almost 2 miles

Convenient to:

Schaffhausen or Zurich, Switzerland

Marking:

Yellow signs with stylized man in solid black, or “Weinwanderweg” in red letters on a white rectangular sign.

Trail Description: A very short and gentle hike through quiet, countryside, with vistas of rolling hills in the distance. Approximately one-quarter of the whole trail is shaded, as it passes through woods. The rest is in sun. Suitable for families with elementary-aged children, and very suitable for baby carriages (in all but a small section in the woods, where for less than 100 meters the going is a bit rougher) as well.

Trailheads:

Start: Berg am Irchel: Dorfstr

End: Volken: Flaachtalstr

Parking:

Parking spots are here and there along the lanes, and near fields on the outskirts of the villages.

Public Transportation Options:

Rail: The nearest station is in Andelfingen, with commuter service trains from Schaffhausen and Winterthur

Bus: The Swiss Postbus lines 670, 675 and 677 service these villages

Suggested Stages:

Not applicable

Trail Itinerary-Reference Points: (West-East)

Berg am Irchel: Dorfstr, Schlossstr, fields, along stream; Flaach: cross Oberdorfstr, Andelfingerstr, through vines on and up a slope; Volken: Glemettenstr, Flaachtalstr

Representative Trail Photos:

Restrooms: None observed

Attractions on or near Trail:

None observed

Tasting along the Trail:

Weingut Bauer in Berg am Irchel; Weingut Kilchsperger in Flaach; Weingut Zur Post (also a tavern) in Volken.

Alternative Options:

Hiking: Other hiking possibilities are available from local tourist offices/information points.

Biking:

-The 18 kilometer/11 milesWorrenberg-Thur bike tour follows from Flaach, over the Worrenberg, along the Thur River, then a bit along the Rhine River before returning to Flaach. Listed as medium plus difficulty.

-Part of the 90 kilometer-long Ostschweizer Weinroute (Wine Route), passes through Ossingen, about 10 km/6 miles away, on its way from Sankt Gallen to Schaffhausen, and the Rheinfalls.

Additional Information:

Regional: https://www.zuercher-weinland.ch/

Trail specific: http://www.worrenberg.net/Weinwanderweg/

Comments:

None

Germany, Hiking, Nutshell

Weinbergwanderung Kaiserberg: Trail in a Nutshell

March 11, 2020 admin

Trail Name: Weinbergwanderung Kaiserberg AKA Weinwanderwege am Kaiserberg

Trail Type: Short distance figure eight circuit; well-maintained and almost exclusively paved, fairly good marking on the trail.

Length: 9.75 kilometers/6 miles

Convenient to: Offenburg, Freiburg, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany

Marking: Small, yellow aluminum signs with black lettering and stylized black grapes on the side. (Bottom three in the photo below)

Many Trails, Many Signs on the Kaiserberg

Trail Description:

This moderately challenging hike (with several inclines and declines), covers the Kaiserberg, a hilly and wonderfully rural area set in the foothills of the Black Forest, yet not far from more urban areas. The biggest towns of Herbolzheim and Ettenheim sponsor several marked wine-themed trails, to include a short wine education trail through the vineyards. This trail, sponsored originally by the Weber winery, joins segments of these shorter trails to make a longer circuit, suitable for families young and old, and even cyclists.

Trailhead:

Ettenheim, Im Offental

Parking:

Ettenheim has a number of small parking lots, not too far from the trail. The closest is on Schwarzwaldstrasse

A small, unimproved parking lot at the top of the main Kaiserberg hill may be reached via Ringsheim’s Bergwerkstrasse.

See the additional comment below about parking.

Public Transportation Options:

Rail: Regional trains DB and SBB) frequently service the Ettenheim area (The closest station to the trail is Ringsheim.)

Bus: Sudbadenbus services this area, and provides route and schedule information at www.suedbadenbus.de

Suggested Stages:

Either the northern or southern half of the figure eight circuit may be hiked separately

Trail Itinerary-Reference Points: (Counterclockwise)

Ettenheim: Im Offental, through the Weber winery complex, vineyards, past a memorial with benches; up a draw between vines and woodline; past Kahlenbergkapelle (chapel); toward Lindenmann-Hutte (hut), scenic overlook with boulders; downhill into vineyards; past a hut; On Margarten, past Hummels Viehweid Straussi (Tavern), continue through vineyards; through intersection/section of trail by Kahlenbergkapelle; Heubergturm; through vineyards, return to Weber winery.

Representative Trail Photos:

Restrooms:

Heubergturm (on the trail) has restrooms, but they are sometimes locked.

Attractions on or near Trail:

Just lots of bucolic scenery.

Tasting along the Trail:

Weber winery, and two seasonal taverns: the Heubergturm, and Hummels Viehweid Straussi; all right on the trail.

Alternative Options:

Hiking: In addition to the long-distance/multi-day Breisgauer Weinweg (see the Nutshell here), there are several circuit hikes. These range from 1 to 5 kilometers, and may be combined for more distance and hiking pleasure. See Ettenheim’s https://www.ettenheim.de/weinwanderwege-am-kaiserberg to download the flyer.

Car: The Badische Weinstrasse, a 200-kilometer car route for wine enthusiasts, begins in Baden-Baden and ends at Weil Am Rhein (on the Swiss border). It roughly follows Highway 3 from north to south, passing through the towns listed here.

Additional Information:

Regional: https://www.ettenheim.de/tourismus-kultur-freizeit

Trail specific: https://www.outdooractive.com/de/wanderung/schwarzwald/weinbergwanderung-kaiserberg-weingut-weber-ettenheim/117526408/#dm=1

Comments:

The Weber winery actively promotes hiking, hence many Weber signs and some events happen here in the vineyards on the Kaiserberg. However, while parking may be allowed in their large parking lot during those times, the sign otherwise notes that parking is only for winery customers.

One small section of the trail, the roughest surface section, was closed off that day due to the danger of falling trees. However, an alternative was clearly marked, and rejoined the trail within a few hundred meters.

France, Hiking, Nutshell

Sentier des Terroirs: Trail in a Nutshell

March 1, 2020 admin

Trail Name: Sentier des Terroirs

Trail Type: Short to mid-distance circuit trail; well-maintained and widely varying surfaces from paved to very rough, marking on the trail very good in places, completely missing in others

Length:

Total – About 18 kilometers/11 miles

Southern/yellow circuit: 9.35 kilometers/5.8 miles.

Convenient to:

Montelimar or Nyons, France

Marking: Numbered wine bottles (some missing) in part, red or yellow arrows with a stylized vineyard area depicted in a wine glass, in other places

Signage for Red and Yellow Trail where Conjoined

(The featured photo on top shows signage for the Yellow trail only.)

Trail Description: A relatively easy, family-friendly and varied trail offering wine education (close to the village), garrigue and vineyard landscapes, overlooked by tall mountains to the east. The trail has two conjoined circuits, making it possible to adapt hiking plans, depending on available time or weather situations. (See the comment below about flooding.)

Trailhead:

St Pantaleon-Les-Vignes: By the townhall (with church-like tower); or Cave Vignerons, Route de Nyons 1

Parking:

St Pantaleon: just off traffic circle, or by the town hall (Mairie), D548 x D541, and by Chateau Urdy

Public Transportation Options:

Rail: The closest rail service is at Montelimar, with good connections plying the major French North-South artery of the Rhone.

Bus: Buses provided by the Auvergne-Rhone-Alps Region (Oura on the website) “Cars Region” service, frequently connect Saint Pantaleon, Rousset, and Taulignan, with Montelimar, (and the rest of France).

Suggested Stages:

The full trail (both northern (heading to Rousset les Vignes) and southern halves) can be done together, or separately.

Trail Itinerary-Reference Points: (Southern circuit only – Clockwise)

Traffic circle on D 541/Rte. de Nyons – Montelimar, D548 -Grand Grange, right fork to Route des Juliannes; La Beaume, cross bridge over the Rieumau creek, Cross D541/Plan du Gre/Rte. de Nyons; Fontaine de Barral; Chapel; Cross the viaduct over Torrent de la Fosse; Chateau Urdy; Traffic circle with super-sized “ wine corks;” Cross D541 to return to the village

Representative Trail Photos:

Restrooms:

In the village, by the church.

Attractions on or near Trail:

The Vignerons de Valleon winery offers tours and tastings to the public, are open liberal hours, and are very helpful and knowledgeable about the wines, as well as about the area and the trail.

Tasting along the Trail:

Chateau d’Urdy

Cave Vignerons de Valleon

Alternative Options:

Car: The Route de la Drome Provencale passes through Taulignan, St Pantaleon-Les-Vignes and Rousset-Les-Vignes, showcasing vineyards, quiet villages and beautiful old structures.

Additional Information:

Regional: https://www.grignanvalreas-tourisme.com/votre-sejour/agenda/

Trail specific: While not much is available online (to help with advance planning), the following website has a map of the southern route http://balades26-07.blogspot.com/2017/01/st-pantaleon-les-vignes-nd-de-sante-par.html (a big “Merci!”); and a map of the northern route may be found online at https://www.valleon.fr/un-terroir-et-des-hommes/, and at the winery’s front office, and the townhall.

Comments:

Snow is rare in this area, but…

Heavy rain can occur, and will flood parts of this trail, especially the low ground at the base of the hill south of the hamlet of Barral, at the Torrent de la Fosse!

Germany, Hiking, Nutshell

Tauberschwarzweg: Trail in a Nutshell

February 11, 2020 admin

Trail Name: Tauberschwarzweg

Trail Type: Mid-distance circuit trail; well-maintained and about half is paved, the other surfaces are grass and earthen; marking on the trail is somewhat good, but a map is strongly advised.

Length: circa13 kilometers/8 miles (See comments below)

Convenient to: Wertheim, or Wuerzburg, Germany

Marking: The capital letter “D”

Continue reading Tauberschwarzweg: Trail in a Nutshell →

Germany, Hiking

Winzerrundweg West: Trail in a Nutshell

February 1, 2020 admin

Trail Name: Winzerrundweg West

Trail Type: Short distance circuit; well maintained and almost exclusively paved, marking on the trail good, but not foolproof

Length: 9 kilometers / 5.6 miles

Convenient to: Breisach or Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany

Marking: Red rectangular signs with the trail name in white letters (See the featured photo above)

Continue reading Winzerrundweg West: Trail in a Nutshell →

France, Hiking, Nutshell

Cote Chalonnaise: Trail in a Nutshell

January 1, 2020 admin

Trail Name: Decouverte Nature de la Cote Chalonnaise (to give it the full name)

Trail Type: mid-distance circuit trail; fairly well-maintained and very diverse trail surfaces, marking on the trail overall fairly good in some places, but missing in others

Length:

Total – 10 kilometers/6.2 miles

Convenient to: Chalon-sur-Saone, France

Marking: Varies, (G2, G3, and in one section red and white bars) but key spots are identified by location posts, and any or all of the above markings.