Wind power, greywacke and Bonte Kerke

This circular tour follows old carters' paths from the Brucher Dam to Marienheide's highest point on the Unnenberg. Impressive views can already be enjoyed from the heights near Dannenberg, while the viewing platform at the edge of the quarry between Becke and Obernhagen offers interesting insights. Finally, the "Book Village" of Müllenbach invites visitors on a journey back in time with its carters' farmstead, a fortified church ("Bonten Kerke"), and the "House of Stories" (open Sundays 15 pm to 19 pm, www.buecherdorfmuellenbach.de).
From the Brucher Reservoir parking lot on Industriestraße in Marienheide-Rodt, walk uphill to Müllenbacher Straße, turn right for a few meters, and then take the footpath down the other side to the side road. Follow this road to the left, following the "Water Quintet" cycle route marker to the reservoir's shore. Unlike cyclists, hikers are permitted to use the footpath along the shore. Follow this path past designated bathing beaches to the dam of the reservoir, which was commissioned in 1913. This reservoir, along with others in the region, improves flood protection in the Wupper Valley and ensures a consistent water flow during dry periods.

Walk across the dam of the 3,34 million cubic meter reservoir. To the left, at the base of the 20-meter-high structure, you will see parts of the hydroelectric power plant, where a turbine has been generating up to 57.000 kilowatt-hours per year since 2008. On the other side of the valley, follow the "Water Quintet" hiking trail markers along the riverbank to the right.

Tip: Especially in autumn, when the sunlight shines through the colorful leaves and makes the water sparkle, a hike here is particularly appealing.

They circle a side arm of the reservoir and then turn left at an information panel of the "Bergischer Fuhrmannsweg" (Bergisch Cart Drivers' Trail) to soon hike up to Gervershagen through the sunken lane described on the panel. Given such road conditions, which were standard in many places in the Bergisch region 200 years ago, one can imagine how hard the daily life of the carters and their draft animals was.
Gervershagen was once one of seven manors belonging to the Neustadt district. Until the mid-19th century, the Gervershagen estate was primarily used for agriculture; only later was the present-day Gervershagen Forest systematically reforested – mainly by the House of Graf Spee, which has owned the property since 1870. Follow the paved road through the forest and an underpass. Where the road curves to the right after the underpass, continue straight ahead on a gravel path, straight on at a crossroads, then after a few meters through a left-hand bend and at the next crossroads turn right onto the windy hilltop near Dannenberg, where the wind turbine is always busy. Follow the Water Quintet Trail along the high-level path at the edge of the village to the left and then right down to the L337 state road. Follow this road for a few meters to the left, heading out of the village, and then turn right onto a farm track before a water protection area sign. This track leads up to the Unnenberg hill, whose slopes here already lie within the Genkel Reservoir water protection area. Continue straight ahead at intersections and then, just before you reach the main road again, turn right at the junction with Seitstraße leading up to the Unnenberg. Follow this road uphill, marked with the Water Quintet symbol, to the highest point in the Marienheide municipality at 506 meters above sea level. Shortly before the summit, the Water Quintet trail branches off from the road and leads past the base of the 45-meter-high observation tower.

Where the path rejoins the asphalt, follow the road diagonally to the left and after about 100 meters turn right. At the junction before the hiking parking lot, keep right and follow the Water Quintet marker into the valley. There, walk a few meters to the left along the road and then turn right onto a forest path where there is already a sign for the quarry viewing platform. You can reach this by continuing straight ahead at a right-hand bend in the path, then keeping right before the edge of the quarry and following the signs. The detour from the hairpin bend is just under a kilometer long and offers a rewarding view into the enormous Talbecke quarry and the extraction operations by the West German Greywacke Union.

Back at the hairpin bend, follow the Water Quintet Trail uphill along the hillside around the crest of the Engelnberg hill until you reach the road above Obernhagen. Here, leave the Water Quintet route and follow the "Road of Work" marker (half a wagon wheel) straight ahead into the forest on the farm track to the left of the bus stop shelter. Continue through the forest, past old quarries, up to Müllenbach. Where you reach the cross street in the village, a detour to the right leads to the "House of Stories" and the almost 1000-year-old church, which, due to its partially preserved interior paintings, is one of the "Colorful Churches" of the Oberberg region. The hiking route, however, continues to the left along the cross street. Passing the old coachman's farm on the right and a café on the left, follow the Water Quintet cycle path marker to the L306 state road, which you cross to return straight ahead to the starting point.