Alm-Mühlen-Runde

Varied, shady hike along the Leithenbach and "on the alpine pasture".
Starting point and destination:
Chapel in Leithen 5, about 5 km from the town centre. You can park here next to the chapel along the path. The circular route in the former "Valley of the Seven Mills" is very shady and gentle. In some places, however, you have to climb over moss-covered stones, which can be a little slippery in rainy weather, so you need to be sure-footed.

In the Leithental valley, mighty water wheels once powered the mills and hammer mills. Here and there, only the remains of walls still protrude from behind trees and bushes, the last witnesses to a great era of mills and pre-industrial production. What has remained of the Leithental is the unspoilt, lush natural landscape. The passage of time has brought seven small power stations to the Leithental. Their operation can be read about on information boards.

From the chapel, follow the path over the bridge. Although there are various prohibition signs, the path is still open to walkers. Follow the path along the stream into the forest, where the path branches off. To the left, past the house, it goes up the "Almweg", further right into the forest, it goes along the "Mühlweg".

Here the route continues clockwise along the Almweg.
If you now follow the path uphill, you will come to the road in the village of Frankengrub, municipality of Neukirchen am Walde. The path now turns sharply to the right and after about 400 metres leads back into the forest, past the Leithentalblick (a detour there is worthwhile) and following the path further to the left, then along the goods road and up to the right to the Eichelberg viewing bench. Continue to follow the signs below the house, then across the meadow and back through the forest, down to the junction with the Mühlweg. Turn right onto the path and follow the Mühlweg along the stream back to the starting point. You need to be sure-footed on the Mühlweg, as you have to climb uphill over some stones for a short distance.