Character
The Ruhr Valley Cycle Route, opened in April 2006, leads from the source of the Ruhr near Winterberg to where it flows into the Rhine near Duisburg and offers an exciting contrast between nature and industrial culture. The Ruhr Valley cycle path is 244 kilometres long. The route follows forest and farm tracks through the mountainous Sauerland region, where you can expect a few climbs, especially in the first 40 kilometres. In the Ruhr region, you cycle almost exclusively on car-free cycle paths along the Ruhr and its reservoirs, with only a few climbs to be expected.
Journey
Take the train to the starting point of the tour in Winterberg. The destination Duisburg, located in the centre of the Ruhr region, has excellent rail connections. Info under http://www.bahn.de
By car via the A7, A2 and A33 motorways to Winterberg. Winterberg can be reached from the south via the A5 motorway (exit Marburg). If you are travelling via the Ruhr area, take the A44 or the A46 via Olsberg.
Information
Ruhrgebiet Tourismus GmbH & Co KG (Hotline: 01805/181620) and Sauerland-Tourismus e. V. (Hotline 01802/403040).
Order hotline for information material: 01805/181630, http://www.ruhrtalradweg.de
Further information at http://www.ruhrgebiettouristik.de and http://www.sauerland.com
Accommodation
Hotel quantityAn der Schlacht, Ruhrstraße 60, 59821 Arnsberg, Tel. 02931/52520, Fax -525250, mailto:info@hotel-menge.de . Bed and breakfast in a double room costs from 40 euros per person. Package deals for cyclists on request.
Ruhrhotel An der Kost, An der Kost 18, 45527 Hattingen, Tel. 02324/391180, Fax 3911822. 44 euros per person for bed and breakfast in a double room. The adjoining restaurant offers a beautiful panoramic view of the Ruhr (http://www.restaurant-teatriz.de).
Central location, parking spaces and tools for bikes, nice team: Hotel NoySchlossstraße 28-30, 45468 Mühlheim an der Ruhr, Tel. 0208/45050, Fax 4505300, mailto:info@hotelnoy.de Bed and breakfast in a double room from 45 euros.
Worth seeing
Henrichshütte in Hattingen, Werksstraße 31-33, Tel. 02324/9247140,
Aquarius Water Museum in Mühlheim an der Ruhr, Burgstraße 70, Tel. 0208/4433390,
Ruhrnatur HouseAlte Schleuse 3, Mühlheim an der Ruhr, Tel. 0208/4433380,
Water station (excursions by boat, bikes are taken along), Alte Schleuse 1, Mühlheim an der Ruhr, Tel. 0208/9609996,
Nightingale CollieryNachtigallstraße 35, Witten, Tel. 02302/936640,
Duisburg North Landscape Park (detour, approx. 8 km from the end of the Ruhr Valley cycle path),
The Duisburg inner harbour presents itself at http://www.innenhafen-duisburg.dethe Duisburg Museum of German Inland Navigation (Apostelstraße 84, Tel. 0203/808890) at http://www.binnenschifffahrtsmuseum.de
Further Internet information at http://www.ruhrtopcard.de and http://www.route-industriekultur.de
Literature/Maps
Bikeline "Ruhr-Radweg", published by Esterbauer, with precise route descriptions and detailed maps at a scale of 1:50,000, 11.90 euros. We also recommend the "Rad Spiralo RuhrtalRadweg" with map sections at a scale of 1:50,000 as well as tips and background information on the route. Bielefelder Verlag, 9.95 euros.
The full-length article from issue 1/2009 is available as a free PDF download.
