Hiking with history - day tip hiking "Westwall Trail [86]"

Roaming through nature and experiencing history up close - this is exactly what awaits you on the interesting hike along the Westwall Trail [86], which leads from the medical bunker in Simonskall to the "Buhlert" forest area and back again. There is plenty to see along the way: from several preserved bunkers and telephone connection points from the Second World War to glorious views over the narrow Kalltal valley or the former battlefield on the Ochsenkopf. Information boards along the route also provide further information.

Good to know: The approximately 8-kilometre circular tour is well signposted and is classified as "medium" difficulty. A certain level of fitness is therefore recommended. Caution: We warn against entering the bunkers as there is a high risk of injury!

The tour at a glance

The start and finish is the village center in Simonskall, which invites you to linger before or after the hike with its numerous restaurants. From the village center, the route leads step by step to the medical bunker, which is the only preserved bunker of its kind in the whole of NRW. The tour continues to the blown-up "Gruppenunterstand 59" on the other side of the Kallbach and in the direction of Buhlert, where other interesting bunkers can be found. It's time for a breather! It's a good thing that the route then leads to panoramic viewpoints that are ideal for resting and enjoying the views. There are also so-called "telephone connection points" along the way. These were built during the construction of the Siegfried Line and played an important role in communication during the war. A little further on is the Buhlert bunker group, which is also worth seeing. The trail then leads into the Klafterbach valley, where a memorial plaque has been erected for the dead of the Battle of the Hürtgen Forest. This is followed by the return route to Simonskall.

Some highlights of the hike ...

... the medical bunker, which was used for first aid during the war and can be visited every Sunday from March to November

... Bunker 59, which offered space for up to 15 people

... the panoramic viewpoints Ochsenkopf and Kalltal