AhrSteig Stage 3: Aremberg to Insul (19.4 km)

Right at the beginning, we are greeted by the promising ascent to the plateau of the Aremberg, one of the highest extinct volcanoes in the Eifel. Only overgrown wall remains, ditches, and a mysterious avenue suggest that once a mighty castle complex crowned the summit of the mountain. The – mostly locked – observation tower dates from a later period. The key can be obtained in the village. Very close to the tower, we leave the plateau on a narrow path. Under our feet, we feel the ancient stone of former castle walls. As soon as we encounter a forest trail, it goes steadily downhill to Eichenbach. In the small picturesque village, we visit the sandstone sculpture of Bläke Fritz. The quick-wittedness of this tinsmith, known throughout the entire Ahr valley for his humor, is preserved in numerous anecdotes. For this, we follow a short detour from the main route at the guesthouse zum Wiesengrund on Ahrtalstraße about 500 meters downhill. Passing the chapel of the 14 Helpers, we now go up to the high plateau of the Mertesnück. To the left, the eye enjoys the wooded hills above the Dreisbachtal. And soon we dive back into the forest. With wide hairpin bends, we make the descent down into the valley of the Ahr, which we cross at the small hamlet of Streitenau. Here begins one of the most beautiful, because most adventurous sections of the AhrSteig. After a brisk climb in the Schulder Hardt, our path winds along partly steep slopes over slightly exposed rocky cliffs and along vertical sandstone walls. We reach the idyllic village of Schuld, located in the basin of the valley. Off the path, the open-air theater and the Schorn chapel tempt visitors. Now it is time to stop at one of the friendly local establishments. After the rest break, we stroll along the Ahr riverbank on a path from which we have a beautiful view of the wide Ahr loop surrounding the old town center. Enough adventures? Far from it. Once more, it goes uphill demanding physical fitness through beech forest until we have climbed the adventurous rock area of Spicher Ley. From here, our view falls westward on the green of the surrounding meadows. In the background, the Aremberg greets us, from where we started in the morning. One last time, we touch the outskirts of Schuld, then we go back into the forest landscape until shortly before Insul we descend to the Ahr riverbank, which here also greets us with mighty sandstone cliffs on the opposite shore. On the bank structure of the otherwise largely natural Ahr, we reach the village with the strangely sounding name. It is probably derived from Insel (island) because the place was once supposedly surrounded by a side arm of the Ahr.

Note: Detours in the Eichenbach and Insul areas as well as construction work in the village of Schuld (as of 23.09.2025)

Due to a damaged bridge, the section through Eichenbach must be detoured. Follow the marking "Umleitung" (detour) here. The riverside path at Insul is closed due to damage caused by the flood disaster. Please use the signposted detour via the Ahr cycle path.

Sturdy footwear is recommended

Sure-footedness required on the rocky paths around Schulder Hardt.

A 61 from the north: Meckenheimer Kreuz, continue on A 565 transitioning to B 257 via Altenahr, direction Adenau/Nürburgring to Dümpelfeld, then right on L 73 via Antweiler to Aremberg.

A 61 from the south: Exit Wehr; direction Nürburgring at the Hohe Acht on L 10 towards Adenau and then continuing on B 257 to Dümpelfeld, then left on L 73 via Antweiler to Aremberg.

A 1 from Cologne: Bliesheimer Kreuz on A 1 to the motorway end, continue on L 304 to Freilingen, then left to Lommersdorf and further to Aremberg.

DB Deutsche Bahn from Cologne/Bonn or Koblenz to Remagen

Current timetable information at https://www.bahn.de and https://www.vrminfo.de 

Ahrtal-Tourismus Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler e.V.
Oberstr. 8
53474 Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler
Tel: 0049 2641 9171-0
Fax: 0049 9171 9171-51
E-Mail: info@ahrtal.de 
Internet: www.ahrtaltourismus.de

Here you can find Stage 2 and Stage 4

Use the | Open Tower Day | to visit the Arenberg Castle and Palace Ruins
Here you can find the >> dates