Fully accessible Wild Kermeter

A 6.2 kilometre network of paths makes the nature of the Kermeter accessible to people with and without disabilities. The forest paths in the adventure area gravelled. Hirschley viewpoint lies some 2.7 kilometres away. Here the forests open out to provide expansive views over the Rur reservoir.

The barrier-free Wild Kermeter natural adventure centre is situated in the heart of the Eifel National Park, on the Kermeter ridge. Visitors of all ages – with and without disabilities – can discover the “ecological heart” of the National Park here. Mixed woodland containing native red beeches can be found on the ridge between the Rur and Urft reservoirs.

The Wilder Kermeter encompasses a barrier-free network of paths and panoramic views of the lakelands.

The barrier-free nature trail “The Wild Way” is part of this experience: ten highly interactive stations provide information about the wilderness, forest development and biological diversity within the Eifel National Park. Boardwalks through the forested wilderness provide special insights into the natural world.    

Rest and relaxing points

A bench is located every 250 metres in the barrier-free natural adventure area. There are additional loungers at four locations. Here you can enjoy the view of the treetops, listen to nature’s soundtrack and simply relax. Hirschley viewpoint also features picnic tables. They are wheelchair-friendly.   

Facilities for guests with impaired vision

A tactile guidance system guides visually-impaired hikers throughout the area. It is complemented by paved tactile surfaces that indicate an important point.  

Paved tactile strips crossing the path indicate the location of benches and signs. A tactile guide strip indicates which way to take when the path branches off. All information provided in the Wild Kermeter area is available in large raised type and in German Braille, as well as in audio form. A brochure on the Wild Kermeter area is available - in German Braille, too - free of charge from the National Park Administration.

The fully accessible Wild Kermeter area for experiencing nature can be reached via the Kermeter-Hochstrasse road (L15) between Schleiden-Gemünd/-Wolfgarten and Heimbach-Schwammenauel. A guidance system in the ground will lead you from the car park to where the hiking path network begins at the Kermeter resting point.

You can reach the Wild Kermeter area by taking the bus no. 231 from Heimbach station or the centre of Gemünd to the fully accessible bus stop "Kermeter-Höhe". The Wild Kermeter area can also be reached from Heimbach station by taking the "Mäxchen" double-decker bus.

A guidance system for the visually impaired will take you along a barrier-free path from the bus stop to the Kermeter resting point. Bus no. 231 runs Mondays to Fridays all year round, and between Easter and the end of the autumn holidays, it also runs at weekends and on public holidays. "Mäxchen" also runs at weekends and on public holidays from May to the middle of October.

In the summer months, it is possible to take the bus to get to and from the guided ranger tour every Sunday at 1 p.m.