Vennbahn disused railway line

[suavecarve]

Another in the series of disused railway lines.
To understand today we left Luxembourg in heavy rain and the forecast was for less heavy rain between 1330 and 1700 before a tad of snow.
Sardine and cheese toasties prior to take off at 1300 in a gap in the weather from the free aire at sankt vith.
Found the vennbahn the other side of town and it is fully tarmacked a little undulating.
If the weather had been good we would have made it to Troisvierges 34 Kms away. But it wasn't and we got lost.
NB there is a 179' right hand turn on the vennbahn without signs and straight ahead is the ardennes Eiffel voie verte.
We will finish what we haven't done today another year.
The plan (weather permitting) tomorrow is to ride up past malmedy to a burg on the track that goes horizontally on a map.
Very pleasant ride. Bit undulating out of sankt vith. Will be shaded in summer. Loads of times going over bridges over the river which was about to burst banks.
All photos are vennbahn none from our accidental detour.

Thread 'The disused railway line and voie vert thread' https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/the-disused-railway-line-and-voie-vert-thread.265926/

 

[PaddyM]

Another in the series of disused railway lines.
To understand today we left Luxembourg in heavy rain and the forecast was for less heavy rain between 1330 and 1700 before a tad of snow.
Sardine and cheese toasties prior to take off at 1300 in a gap in the weather from the free aire at sankt vith.
Found the vennbahn the other side of town and it is fully tarmacked a little undulating.
If the weather had been good we would have made it to Troisvierges 34 Kms away. But it wasn't and we got lost.
NB there is a 179' right hand turn on the vennbahn without signs and straight ahead is the ardennes Eiffel voie verte.
We will finish what we haven't done today another year.
The plan (weather permitting) tomorrow is to ride up past malmedy to a burg on the track that goes horizontally on a map.
Very pleasant ride. Bit undulating out of sankt vith. Will be shaded in summer. Loads of times going over bridges over the river which was about to burst banks.
All photos are vennbahn none from our accidental detour. View attachment 725162View attachment 725163View attachment 725164View attachment 725165View attachment 725166View attachment 725167View attachment 725168View attachment 725169View attachment 725170View attachment 725171View attachment 725172View attachment 725173View attachment 725174
Thread 'The disused railway line and voie vert thread' https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/the-disused-railway-line-and-voie-vert-thread.265926/

Nice to see you got that nasty rash sorted

 

[suavecarve]

Nice to see you got that nasty rash sorted

Wouldn't dream of getting it wet.

 

[suavecarve]

Deserved this today

 

[mapman55]

Very nice, do like following your railway rides

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[suavecarve]

Well after yesterday's fiasco we woke to some blue sky but it were well cold. +1 is what we saw at the pharmacie on way out and back.
Double gloved, hat and although no evidence the NUFC snood was well used on top of thermals.
Saint vith up to past Waimes junction was the plan but we added Waimes to Malmedy as well for 72 km round trip.
Loads of things to see. Goats highland cows, Shetland ponies, loads of birds of prey, tits and Jays and yes a beaver.
We saw signs advising of beavers and we saw a few dams and a lodge but then out of the corner of my eye whilst passing caught sight of one and managed photos.
Had to cycle through fresh snow today and loads of nature stuff. There was a smoked ham place and turntable and big old delapidated bridge and viewpoints.. All these things keep us happy. Great day out, no hills that required more than eco on the leccy bikes. Shame about no tunnels or bridges. Totally tarmac but debris from yesterday's storm but only twigs

 

[mapman55]

Just finished reading another brilliant ride and very interesting, looks like you both had a lovely day, thanks

 

[suavecarve]

We moved onto the beautiful town of Monschau after we cleared the overnight snow away.
7 euros for 24 hours at the top end next to a spa. 10 minutes downhill to town.
The vennbahn is up high here though there is a detour to take you in and out of town. To get the route is mountain bike uphill territory following a constant cascade (it has been really damp here) and the road has signs at the top indicating it might be closed but when in Germany behave like a Frenchman is a motto that serves us well.
First couple of signs were noticed of eagles. Next thing we noticed was an eagle. In France it would the royale eagle. No idea what it is called here.
Onto the yet again immaculate tarmac with less debris and no snow today.
Cascades to the right but no photos as through trees and valley to the left as we headed south to near Waimes where we stopped yesterday.
Saw another eagle couple of Kms along (no evidence offered) and 3 bridges but that was it for bridges today and tunnels. But I did read about the bat tunnel on the sankt vith to Troisvierges bit that got rained/snowed off for when we return next year.
We carried along the flat path sometimes very slight inclines both ways but not noticeable unless wind was against you and you are high.

Then we came to a station with velorail that runs adjacent for 5 or 6 Kms so non cyclists can cycle it. Cafe at both ends and the far end is a shelter where well behaved youths smoke their pot on a Sunday afternoon. Views of the river are often and again evidence of beavers but no sightings today. But there was a warning for aggressive Grouse who don't like cyclists as this their nature park.
Saw a couple of baby deer (foals) the Bambi type with spots being reared in someone's backyard and a signal box still with its points changers intact.
44 Kms today. Full wet weather gear.
Photos of Monschau to start with including where you can lock and charge your bike for a returnable Euro on the way down from the Aire into town. Or you can pay 5 euros for leccy at the Aire.
Several border crossings apparently from Belgium to Germany and back.
Forgot to mention every kilometre there is a marker for how far away from Aachen you are

 

[RidersofRohan]

Despite neither of us being cyclists I have followed this and some of the other trails you have done. In the first photo the road sign gives Pedestrian, Cycles and Horse riders and I think these paths could work for us. This is how we would travel with me walking with the dog ( Dalmatian) and my wife on a mobility scooter. We got the electric scooter from AS bikes and it has bigger wheels and pneumatic tyres giving a more comfortable ride than previous mob scoots we have had. Obviously our range is nowhere near 44km you have done by bike. With the dog on the lead would we be ok on these cycle trails? I wasn’t sure if they were cycle only but not so this one. What does anyone think?

 

[Arnside037]

It seems a lot of hot choc and cream to keep out the inclement weather. Have you done the Wiltz to Bastogne railway line? Slight incline up to Bastogne, but an easy rise back.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[suavecarve]

Despite neither of us being cyclists I have followed this and some of the other trails you have done. In the first photo the road sign gives Pedestrian, Cycles and Horse riders and I think these paths could work for us. This is how we would travel with me walking with the dog ( Dalmatian) and my wife on a mobility scooter. We got the electric scooter from AS bikes and it has bigger wheels and pneumatic tyres giving a more comfortable ride than previous mob scoots we have had. Obviously our range is nowhere near 44km you have done by bike. With the dog on the lead would we be ok on these cycle trails? I wasn’t sure if they were cycle only but not so this one. What does anyone think?View attachment 726086

Dam right these are fine for you. Recommendation to keep to the right hand side of the path and/or stick a wing mirror on there.
We see loads of walkers, couple of skiers today.
This route today would be of no use for you from where we parked but as you look at it on a map you can see that pretty much all the stations have parking. (Kuchelschied today)
The ones I have done in South of France would suit you even more as there are many on and off points

 

[suavecarve]

It seems a lot of hot choc and cream to keep out the inclement weather. Have you done the Wiltz to Bastogne railway line? Slight incline up to Bastogne, but an easy rise back.

Not yet. I think it's a Ravel (Belgian series of disused railway lines) so will be on the hit list at some stage.
It looks like it's downhill all the way on this one from Roetgen to Aachen (couple of days time)

 

[mapman55]

Another nice ride with some lovely cakes

 

[RidersofRohan]

Dam right these are fine for you. Recommendation to keep to the right hand side of the path and/or stick a wing mirror on there.
We see loads of walkers, couple of skiers today.
This route today would be of no use for you from where we parked but as you look at it on a map you can see that pretty much all the stations have parking. (Kuchelschied today)
The ones I have done in South of France would suit you even more as there are many on and off points

Thanks.
The mirror is a good idea. I tend to walk just behind and the dog likes to walk at the side of the scooter. Dalmatians were originally bred to run with carriages in a pack as a form of security. It’s amazing how those genes from so long ago just kick in without any training. (Although he does lose some of his initial enthusiasm for the task as the walk goes along).
We have done a section of the Keswick- Threlkeld path on the old scooter but had to turn around at the 2.5 km mark due to the poor ride. The picture in post #9 shows us walking on Forestry walks in the Forest of Dean. We hope to go to France next month so looking forward to finding some routes we could part follow. Thanks again.

 

[suavecarve]

Whereabouts in France ?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[RidersofRohan]

Whereabouts in France ?

We are looking at the Eastern side Alsace, Vosges and Annecy.

 

[PhilMary]

Thanks for these rides. Very interesting to follow.

 

[suavecarve]

We are looking at the Eastern side Alsace, Vosges and Annecy.

 

[suavecarve]

Last update for a year or 2 as weather has forced our hand. Tomorrow is moister than damp so decided to do Roetgen to Aachen stopping at Roetgen Aire. So the bits we haven't done are somewhere from sankt vith to Troisvierges and Roetgen to Monschau. We will return.
So Roetgen Aire is completely unremarkable in hard bed of mud/puddles next to a spa and fenced off area where roadworks materials are kept. Close to a road and very close to the vennbahn it is a great car park, but not an overnight stay for us. It is free.
The spa is also a therme and 21 euros each for 2 hours or 26 euros the day was just over our budget. Forget your trunks if you do go.
It is 31 Kms to Aachen and we made it there easily not realising the gradient was on our side as well as the wind.
Starts off through forest until a railway appears out of nowhere. Plenty parking here and a cafe (not open today)
Then you follow alongside the railway which we doubt is used as the station looked derelict and a couple of small trees were across the tracks. Some of the time there was a fence separating you from the railway but only about 1km.
There is a sign after 2kms that says Aachen 19 Kms. The vennbahn is twisty and takes a 10 Kms detour. If your plan is to see Aachen this route might be for you. Only one noteworthy bridge and there was a town at 12kms from Aachen which in hindsight was as far as we ought to have gone. From 6 Kms out were the first signs of urbanisation with replenished tarmac and from 3 Kms the signs stop and educated guesswork through the town was required which was interesting. We ended up alongside the railway up a hill through a school and map checking every 200 yards. Eventually making it to the train station. Disappointed no official start or finish point. So we decided it was the horses.
Dirty kebab for lunch from Haus kebab opposite train station where I can recommend NOT having the chilli sauce. They gave me a complimentary yoghurt drink.
Wife needed a wee in middle of nowhere and parked her bike in a hurry which the got blown over and chain seat and steering issues fixed on the road with the help of the worst set of Allan keys ever.
Then the journey back .... Uphill against the wind. Whacked it up to tour mode and still only 17kph. It was hard work and owing to time of year no real obvious stops.
We have moved on to heist op den burg tonight as batteries haven't had chance to recharge so we can charge electric bikes. We were here last year and know we can charge our bikes for free and we are 11kms from the Stella Artois brewery at Leuven.
But after all that it was still a good day out
Tank defence systems seen as well.
NB last photo shows who can use path which is general for these types of paths

 

[suavecarve]

We are looking at the Eastern side Alsace, Vosges and Annecy.

Haven't done anything around there in terms of disused railways but I understand the path round Anne y lake is a disused line. If you keep to France then Nantua will be in your way. About 8 euros but a flat well used path round the lake about 6kms from memory and v pretty at night but the town is "not great"

I would really tempted to have a look at the bat tunnel near Troisvierges and find an on off route near to it.

Enjoy

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[RidersofRohan]

Haven't done anything around there in terms of disused railways but I understand the path round Anne y lake is a disused line. If you keep to France then Nantua will be in your way. About 8 euros but a flat well used path round the lake about 6kms from memory and v pretty at night but the town is "not great"

I would really tempted to have a look at the bat tunnel near Troisvierges and find an on off route near to it.

Enjoy

Many thanks. Spent most of the evening researching a combination of path and aire for various places, some possibles are emerging. We need the aire to be on or reasonably near to the pathway. The alternative would be finding parking at the pathway as you have suggested, as I’m finding the route between aire and pathway needs a good footpath for the mob scooter to be safe on, so lm checking on street view on Google for this and it’s time consuming. However I try to do this for wherever we go, ie between campsite and town etc, so I’m used to having to discount so many campsites as it just isn’t safe to run a small mobility scooter limited to 8 mph on the road. We need a footpath, preferably with drop kerbs!
The Lake Annecy pathway sounds great.

 

[mapman55]

very interesting reading with nice pictures too

 

[mapman]

Haven't done anything around there in terms of disused railways but I understand the path round Anne y lake is a disused line.

Rode round Lake Annecy many years ago, but the section around near Menthon St Bernard involves a hill away from the lake on the main road which can be quite busy. However most of the route is very pleasant including a tunnel on the west side.

 

[suavecarve]

Got to finish it today after another failed attempt.
A copy from our Bavarian journal in my signature.

If you're reading this then it is likely you are aware of 2 previously failed attempts where Paula has failed in her map reading duty.

The last leg of the Vennbahn needed to be completed and heavy rain overnight and high winds werent going to stop us on the 35 Kms both way journey.

We thought of everything that might stop us such as a mechanical issue on Paula's bike like the chain coming off

Or fallen down trees in the road

Horrendous amounts of fir cones spread out across the road as driving hazards or perhaps a series of 10% hills

Perhaps a blocked off bat tunnel on the route

Or maybe the weather would be so inclement we couldn't continue

But we set off anyway full of electricity and hope.

We made it to our nemesis junction and turned right and pleased to see the mile markers continuing telling us we were (eventually) on the right road.

Passed over some lovely little bridges

And a few of these stops, but it got uphill for 12 Kms after this against the strong wind

Lovely gardens

And the sign pointing us ap another 10% hill detour because of the bats in the tunnel.

This is the view of Troisvierges railway station which is at the end/start of the Vennbahn. Only a 10% hill to freewheel down now.

Chocolat chaud was our reward but the end is a bit of a disappointment as no real marker point just like Aachen. So the railway wheel was our designated photo point

Had a wonder round the town whilst abstracting even more electricity

Might be worth zooming in on the bottom left of the above photo to see what the man made mounds represent. Though we couldn't find the spot to take the photo

Time to head home and luckily done both ways so Aachen is not the destinatio

But we had spotted a berg on the map at the highest point in Luxembourg so short detour to view from that,

But if you zoom in on this photo you will be able to see it's locked.
So views from the outside.

Then noticed a memorial which is to the 87th marines of USA who in 3 days unbeknown to them had liberated the highest and lowest points of Luxembourg

Another free electric top up with videos of the Vennbahn whilst eating an excuse for lunch with a really rotten beer from a tin.

View from our high point upon return

 

[Garfields]

suavecarve thanks for this I had read it previously and then forgot about it.
We have cycled a part of the route from Monschau a few years ago and your thread popped up when I was looking for ideas.
Our plan for this trip is the north coast up to the Baltic but plan B if weather is not playing ball is to head Mosel and Luxemburg and you have given me some more options thanks.
Better not be any snow though

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[suavecarve]

suavecarve thanks for this I had read it previously and then forgot about it.
We have cycled a part of the route from Monschau a few years ago and your thread popped up when I was looking for ideas.
Our plan for this trip is the north coast up to the Baltic but plan B if weather is not playing ball is to head Mosel and Luxemburg and you have given me some more options thanks.
Better not be any snow though

If we hadn't had an expensive (to us) holiday in Austria 5 weeks ago the Baltic part of Germany is the place to be for comfortable heat at the moment.
Currently provence looking at another disused railway line in a couple of days

Thank you for your kind words

 

[WESTY66]

So, Jon suavecarve Is the aire at st vith a good aire to say roll up lunchtime and have enough to occupy us till day 6-7 without cycling, say walking round town? I’ve been threatening to stay there for years but it’s just too far from coquelles when we get off the train at 12.00 midnight.
I get in France next sat morning at 7.35 and option
A, St vith (arrive say 12 ish) then on to Offenburg, then (5-6hr) on to lauterbrunnen.
B Straight to Offenburg 7.5 hr drive, then down to Swiss border (2-3hr drive) for lauterbrunnen.
Either either I can’t enter Swiss till Monday
Decisions Decisions!!!!

Oh and a bloody cycling event has scuppered my plans for the Grimselpass, Furkapass, and the Klausenpass

 

[Puddleduck]

Traffic free cycle routes are my favoured cycle rides. Ideally old railway lines for Martin to enthuse after.

Once I am well enough again we will build up our stamina.....

The last cruise we took there were a couple with folding bikes on the ship who cycled at every port.

 

[WESTY66]

Thank you suavecarve ive just been looking up the Vennbahn website, that looks great and I’m going to do all that route when I retire

 

[suavecarve]

So, Jon suavecarve Is the aire at st vith a good aire to say roll up lunchtime and have enough to occupy us till day 6-7 without cycling, say walking round town? I’ve been threatening to stay there for years but it’s just too far from coquelles when we get off the train at 12.00 midnight.
I get in France next sat morning at 7.35 and option
A, St vith (arrive say 12 ish) then on to Offenburg, then (5-6hr) on to lauterbrunnen.
B Straight to Offenburg 7.5 hr drive, then down to Swiss border (2-3hr drive) for lauterbrunnen.
Either either I can’t enter Swiss till Monday
Decisions Decisions!!!!

Oh and a bloody cycling event has scuppered my plans for the Grimselpass, Furkapass, and the Klausenpass

You need to bite the bullet and get to Rodemack. Far better suited to what you will be there for.

Ok it's France but it's on the lx border and in your way.

It's a beaux village and often has events on at the weekend. We saw a massive amount of little 50cc 2 strokes all over 50 years old and had their own assault course. You can walk the ramparts then find the microbrewery. The mayor (or we think he is) oriental, is always pissed in there. They give you a tour if you ask the right questions.

St Vith wouldn't do it Imv. There is a town and a bit of interesting stuff by the voie vert.

Another one to consider is Malmsey (just checking) huge history of the battle of the bulge. You have to pay but better for non cyclists than st vith

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}