Breitingen: Hiking along the Lone and the Schönrain Mill
Accommodation in Breitingen
Explore Breitingen on signposted trails, with songs and at a preserved mill grinding station. There are four signposted hiking routes around the town, varying in distance and elevation gain. There are also trails along the Lone and several places to take a break. When choosing a holiday stay, it is therefore worth considering whether you prefer a loop with a precise route description, a themed trail or an insight into milling technology.
Landschaftsschutzgebiet „Mittleres Lonetal“ bei Bernstadt im Alb-Donau-Kreis
Photo: Barockspot via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Hiking loops with different profiles
Two circular hikes start and end at the Pegelhaus/Wanderparkplatz. The 2.3-kilometre route has an elevation difference of 3 metres. It initially follows a paved hiking trail along the Lone towards Westerstetten. After one kilometre, it crosses an easy-to-walk footpath and the Lone bridge. It then returns to the starting point on a well-gravelled farm track, partly along the edge of the forest and downstream. The second loop is 3.2 kilometres long and has an elevation difference of 60 metres. It also starts and ends at the Pegelhaus/Wanderparkplatz. It crosses the Lone bridge, leads through the forest to the Scheckeler and continues to a resettler farm. The return route follows a paved path with lovely views over Breitingen. The specific distances and elevation gains make it easy to see the difference between the two loops at a glance.
Another hiking route starts at Breitingen Town Hall and leads to the Schönrain nature reserve, passing the Schönrain Mill. The path descends along the Lone through the forest; a shortcut is possible. The Breitinger Höhenweg offers something different: songs invite you to sing along at seven singing stations. The Breitingen choral society and the children’s choir have recorded two songs for each station. This lets you combine your hike with musical stops rather than choosing a route based only on its length and elevation gain.
The mill and places to take a break along the Lone
A mill grinding station with millstones can still be viewed at the Schönrain Mill. This preserved feature of milling technology complements Breitingen’s hiking trails with a cultural point of interest. There are two inns where you can stop for a meal, several well-situated benches and an activity point along the Lone. If you plan to stop for a meal, it is worth checking the latest information, as individual businesses may change. The benches and activity point offer further opportunities to take a break along the trail.
More hiking and cultural destinations in the Alb-Donau district
The wider Alb-Donau district offers more hiking options on a different scale: the 20 circular routes of the Ice Age Trails are 6 to 14 kilometres long and suitable for day hikes. They are complemented by the family-friendly Ice Age Tracks, ranging from 1 to 6 kilometres, and the Contemplation Trail for multi-day hikes. These regional options offer a different choice from the signposted routes around Breitingen and help you gauge the scope you want for your hiking plans.
The Alb-Donau district also offers distinctive cultural destinations. The Hohle Fels cave near Schelklingen is a UNESCO World Heritage cave and the site where the “Venus of Hohle Fels” and the “Geierknochenflöte” were found; both are around 42,500 years old. Obermarchtal Monastery stands directly above the Danube and took its present form between 1686 and 1795. These places offer a different focus from the milling technology in Breitingen or a break along the Lone.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Setzingen, Ulm, Weidenstetten, Börslingen, Ehingen, Dornstadt, Neenstetten and Lonsee.
Back to the main travel overview: Alb-Donau district.
