RuT3 near Greimerath - Visiting the Whinchat
- start: Parking lot in Greimerath. GPS: N 49° 33.738' E 6° 40.875' (410 hm)
- destination: Parking lot in Greimerath. GPS: N 49° 33.738' E 6° 40.875' (410 hm)
- easy
- 6,73 km
- 2 hours 5 minutes
- 91 m
- 511 m
- 425 m
- 60 / 100
- 20 / 100
A discovery tour following in the footsteps of the whinchat in the Saar-Hunsrück Nature Park. Along the 6.7 km route through the Greimerather Mulde, we’ll enjoy magnificent views.
With a little luck, we may spot the whinchat on this 6.7-kilometer hike around Greimerath; it finds ideal breeding conditions in the wet meadows of the Panzbruch. In the open meadows, it hunts insects and builds its nest on or just above the ground, hidden among grasses and herbs—so it’s worth taking a closer look!
As a migratory bird, however, it only stays in our region during the spring and summer months. All year round, though, you can watch the Taurus cattle grazing, as they are used there to keep the wet meadows open and thus provide ideal breeding and living conditions for meadow bird species—such as the whinchat, the common snipe, and the meadow pipit.
Impressions
General information
Directions
From the parking lot in Greimerath, the trail continues past the church toward the edge of town. We cross the Eselsbach on our right and reach the first expansive wet meadows and marshy areas. The whinchat returns here every spring to breed. The whinchat’s territory covers about 2.5 hectares, meaning there are approximately a dozen pairs of whinchats in the Greimerath area.
Our path continues along the edge of the forest, and we reach the information board after about 4.3 km. A little further on, we have a good view of the Panzbruch. This flat moraine, located at the lowest point of the Greimerath Basin, has been a nature reserve since 1983. Here, the mosaic of sedge and moor grass meadows, rush marshes, willow thickets, and swamp forests is to be preserved. Heading back toward Greimerath, we watch the Taurus cattle grazing and return to our starting point.
Equipment
Sturdy shoes and comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing are recommended.
Tip
Although the whinchat is only about the size of a sparrow, it is still a migratory bird. That’s why it’s only here in the spring and summer!
Getting there
From the A1: Take the Reinsfeld exit toward Zerf; after Hirschfelder Hof, head toward Greimerath; in Greimerath, cross the bridge; the parking lot is on the left.
From Trier: Drive through Zerf toward Losheim am See, turn left toward Greimerath; the parking lot is on the right before the bridge.
Parking
Parking lot by the bridge in Greimerath
Additional Information
The nature trail is funded as part of the Ruwer Waterways Project through the federal Riparian Zone Program, with participation from the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The goal is to preserve and develop the Ruwer River and its tributaries, along with their floodplains, over a stretch of approximately 186 km as a near-natural water and floodplain landscape within the Saar-Hunsrück Nature Park.
A total of 6 themed hiking trails (Rut1–Rut6) are part of this project, offering hikers a vivid and informative way to experience the Ruwer River and its various uses up close.
Pavings
- Street (1%)
- Asphalt Coating (20%)
- Hiking Trail (36%)
- Path (12%)
- Crushed Rock (31%)
Weather
This tour is presented by: Tourist-Information Ruwer, Author: Touristinformation Ruwer