Grande Granite Tour: Stage 4

  • culturally interesting
  • Multi-day tour

 Interactive elevation profile

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Tour-Details

Starting place: 4181 Oberneukirchen
Destination: 4113 St. Martin im Mühlkreis

duration: 4h 45m
length: 44,8 km
Altitude difference (uphill): 845m
Altitude difference (downhill): 1.293m

Lowest point: 282m
Highest point: 748m
difficulty: medium
condition: medium
panoramic view: Dreamtour

Paths covering:
Asphalt, Path / trail, Gravel, Other

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Short description:
“Plateau with panoramic views and detours down valleys”


Quality of experience: ******


Recommended season:
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October


Properties:
  • Multi-stage route
  • Scenic
  • Refreshment stops available
  • Cultural/historical value
  • Geological highlights
  • Botanical highlights
  • Faunistic highlights

Description:
From the mountaintop village of Waxenberg, you will whiz effortlessly back down to the idyllic, meadowy Kleine Rodl valley. A short climb through a stretch of forest, then you will be standing at the last ridge of northern Granite Country. Meandering broadly, the route leads down through secluded valleys to Neusserling. This is where the farm-dotted panoramic plateau begins, interspersed with deep, forested mini valleys. Here, sublime biking through cultivated countryside meets fun in the small valleys – with some tricky spots along the way. In Sankt Martin im Mühlkreis, a fabulous downhill stretch with views over the Danube Valley to the riverport of Untermühl delivers a perfect ending to the section.

 


Highlights:



  • Waxenberg (village with ruins of castle at summit, lookout tower with 360-degree panoramic view, palace)

  • Pesenbachtal Nature Reserve (first nature reserve in the Mühlviertel) 

  • Sankt Martin im Mühlkreis (area in which famous Neuhauser granite is mined, granite-filtered beer)

  • Schloss Neuhaus palace (granite transport – field railway terminates, cable car to Danube begins)

  • Untermühl (port on the Danube, location from which famous Neuhauser granite is shipped)

  • Overnight location: By the port on the Danube at Untermühl



Directions:
From the mountaintop village of Waxenberg, you will whiz effortlessly back down to the idyllic, meadowy Kleine Rodl valley. A short climb through a stretch of forest, then you will be standing at the last ridge of northern Granite Country. Meandering broadly, the route leads down through secluded valleys to Neusserling. This is where the farm-dotted panoramic plateau begins, interspersed with deep, forested mini valleys. Here, sublime biking through cultivated countryside meets fun in the small valleys – with some tricky spots along the way. In Sankt Martin im Mühlkreis, a fabulous downhill stretch with views over the Danube Valley to the riverport of Untermühl delivers a perfect ending to the section.

 


Waxenberg: The ruined castle at the summit is located on a forested, cone-shaped mountain above the Kleine Rodl valley and the pretty village on the adjacent anticline. The castle was built at the time when parts of the Mühlviertel’s primeval forests were being opened up and developed, providing a seat of power in the centre of the region’s largest clearing domain. Top tip: The lookout tower on the castle offers 360-degree panoramic views from the Bohemian Forest to the Alps – a true highlight of the tour! Next, you can flow freely ahead, whizzing through mixed mountainside forest, later following the rhythm of winding farm roads through gently undulating Mühlviertel farmland into the meadowy Kleine Rodl valley. Top-notch biking! Loymühle mill then emerges ahead, followed by an ascent (elevation gain: 150 metres), initially going steeper up the mountainside forest, then taking a more relaxed turn on rural tracks. Once you reach Buchholz, you will be standing on the final ridge (720 metres) of northern Granite Country. Congratulations! Heading for the rear side of the summit, a spell of cruising along at high elevation with views over the Alps is sure to evoke a feeling of pure freedom. The downhill trail then leads into a hidden side valley. A short ascent is called for, before riding further down to Neusserling, meandering enjoyably downwards into a secluded depression in the terrain. This is where the farm-dotted panoramic plateau begins, interspersed with deep, forested mini valleys. Here, sublime biking through cultivated countryside with a feeling of almost endless expanse meets fun riding through the narrow valleys – with some tricky spots along the way! The route leads through three smaller valleys – the middle one boasting a short trail – into the smart high plateau village of Herzogsdorf. Here, the elevated plain shows its most attractive face, offering a dreamlike long-distance descent with a blissful stretch of asphalt weaving through the plateau’s foothills down to Böckstein! The trails during the following digression into the Eschelbach stream valley are guaranteed to exhilarate: a short, tricky, steep descent into the forested valley, some streamside biking, then a crunchy climb back up to the plateau. Without a doubt, the most technically demanding part of the entire tour! From the panoramic plateau, you can advance downhill into the Pesenbach stream valley on pleasant side roads and then on to Bimberg on the opposite slope after a brief spell of cruising along at high altitude. Afterwards, one memorable delight follows the next – blissful biking along the Pesenbach valley floor, a breathy climb through forest to Gaisberg, cruising elegantly along with views far off into the distance among a patchwork of fields and huge farmhouses. The last valley detour leads down to the lonely part of the Pesenbach valley: the Pesenbachtal Nature Reserve! Surrounded by a quaint mixed forest, you will then ride upstream along historical tracks and narrow footpaths alongside the amber-coloured stream, awakening thoughts about when the long remote Mühlviertel was first settled in the distant past. After this, pedal back to the panoramic plateau via the secluded Wolfsdoppel valley and onwards to Sankt Martin im Mühlkreis. The special importance of the village only becomes evident with a realisation of its history as the area in which famous Neuhauser granite is mined and a stop on the salt road to Bohemia. Top tip: Neuhauser granite, including in sculpture form, can be seen in the parish church’s artistic ribbed vault, and the region’s delicious granite-filtered beer bespeaks a long tradition of hospitality. Now the way back to the deep Danube Valley begins. A fast-paced descent leads down into the secluded depression that is home to Dreissenbach stream, offering a surprise in the form of a brief but bumpy trail ascent through meadows and woodland. Afterwards, you will enjoy a fabulous panoramic view of the Danube Valley from a ridge – a true highlight of the trip! One short and fun ascent later, you will be crossing the final mini valley towards the magnificent Schloss Neuhaus, a private palace. It was here that the field railway once transported Neuhaus granite from the quarries by cable car down to the Danube. Afterwards, you will dive back into the ancient forested gorge of the Danube Valley, racing down to the Danubeside port of Untermühl, where this same granite was loaded onto ships.

Starting point: Waxenberg
Destination: Untermühl

further information:
  • Multi-day tour
  • Board possible

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Grande Granite Tour: Stage 4
WGD Donau Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH
Lindengasse 9
4040 Linz

Phone +43 732 7277 - 800
Fax machine +43 732 7277 - 804
E-Mail info@donauregion.at
Web www.donauregion.at
http://www.donauregion.at

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1. The tours presented for hiking, walking, biking and road biking, mountain biking, motorbiking, horseback riding, climbing, cross-country skiing, and going on skiing and snowshoe tours etc. are to be considered non-paid tour recommendations and only serve as non-binding information. We have no intention of concluding a contract with the users of this website. The utilisation of the data does not lead to the establishment of a contract with us.

 

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We point out that neither the tour recommendations included on this website nor the associated data and information were posted by us, but rather by third parties (Art. 16 Austrian E-Commerce Act). We have no influence on whether the details provided (e.g. distance, level of difficulty, change in altitude, description etc.) are authentic, correct and complete. We do not review these third-party contents. For this reason, we assume no liability for the authenticity, correctness and completeness of the information.

 

Construction-related measures or other influences (e.g. landslides and similar occurrences) can lead to temporary or permanent changes in a route (e.g. loss of a bridge and similar occurrences). Such occurrences can lead to part of the route or the entire route becoming impassable.

 

The use of the data as well as undertaking (riding, walking, taking etc.) the recommended tours or using the network of paths occurs at users’ own risk and on their authority. In particular, users themselves are responsible for the choice of route, outdoor orientation, adherence to traffic rules, supplies and equipment for tours listed in Point 1 (e.g. bicycle etc.), wearing a helmet, estimating their own fitness, recognising dangers and maintaining an appropriate velocity. We exclude ourselves from any liability whatsoever for damages, in particular accidents, that occur whilst taking part in the recommended tours.

 

2.Some of the tours lead over roads with normal traffic conditions. Please observe that there is an increased risk which can be avoided by means of appropriate attention and proper estimation and implementation of one’s own abilities. For this reason, please travel a route that is unfamiliar to you slowly and with special care. Pay constant attention to potential dangers and always observe traffic. Do not leave the routes featured in descriptions.

 

The potential use of private roads, in particular forestry roads and agricultural transport roads, can be subject to legal restrictions, which must be observed and adhered to.

 

The normal traffic rules apply. Each user (e.g. biker, motorbiker) is responsible for adhering to these rules and maintaining his/her bike/vehicle and its equipment (lights, brakes etc.) in good working order. Each user is also responsible for ensuring that he/she rides at a velocity that is appropriate for the conditions and his/her skill level and for maintaining sufficient distance to the rider in front. We explicitly recommend adjusting velocity to correspond to the respective field of vision, wearing a helmet, using reflective clothing (or similar) and employing bicycle lights in line with regulations.

 

3.Each tour requires good physical fitness as well as detailed planning. We explicitly recommend only taking the tours in the case of optimal healthiness.

 

We recommend that you conclude an accident and liability insurance policy. Use an onboard computer that displays the respective kilometres travelled per day and is calibrated for the front wheel.

 

4.Special for mountain bikers – Fair-play rules:

 

Mountain biking is one of the most wonderful outdoor leisure-time activities. Whilst biking or on a mountain biking tour, mountains and lakes, meadows and cabins are re-discovered in new ways. A couple of rules for fair play in the forest help to avoid conflicts whilst mountain biking.

 

a.Pedestrians have the right of way: We are accommodating and friendly to pedestrians and hikers. Upon encountering these fellow travellers, we alert them by using the bicycle bell and slowly overtake them. We avoid paths with heavy pedestrian traffic altogether. Take nature into account: We do not leave refuse behind.

b.The braking distance should be half of the total distance visible: We ride at a controlled pace, are ready to brake and maintain a braking distance half as long as the total distance visible, especially in curves, because we always have to count on obstacles on the path. Damage to the path, stones, branches, wood piles, grazing livestock, cattle grids, barriers, tractor-type forestry machines and authorised vehicles pose dangers that we need to be ready for.

c.Don’t drink and drive!: Do not drink alcohol when mountain biking. Take care at stop-off points (dealing with bike racks, dirty shoes or clothing).

It is obligatory to provide first aid!

d.Marked routes, closed paths and blockades: Keep to the marked routes, observe the blockades and accept that these roads are primarily for agricultural and forestry use!

Blockades can often not be avoided and are in your own interest. Biking beyond the intended path and outside of opening times is punishable and turns us into illegal bikers.

e.We are guests in the forest and behave accordingly, including vis-à-vis forestry and hunting staff. Whilst mountain biking, mobile telephones and music players are forbidden! Biking requires your full attention.

f.Avoid unnecessary noise. Out of consideration to the animals living in the wild, we only bike during full daylight. As a principle, we always wear our helmet (even when riding uphill)! Don’t forget emergency supplies: We always have a repair set and bandages along.

g.Don’t overestimate your skills: We should not overdo it when it comes to biking technique and physical fitness. Take the level of difficulty posed by the route into consideration and make a precise estimate of your experience and skills as a biker (braking, bell, lights)!

h.Close gates: We approach grazing livestock at a walking pace and close every gate behind us. We should avoid causing escape and panic reactions in the animals. Nothing stands in the way of the fun and athletic challenge in the mountains and forests!

i.Traffic rules: The general traffic rules (StVO) apply for all the mountain biking routes and we adhere to them. Our bike therefore needs to be in perfect technical condition and equipped in line with the traffic rules, including brakes, a bell and lights. We inspect and service our mountain bikes regularly anyway.

 

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 Interactive elevation profile

Download GPS data
Create PDF

Tour-Details

Starting place: 4181 Oberneukirchen
Destination: 4113 St. Martin im Mühlkreis

duration: 4h 45m
length: 44,8 km
Altitude difference (uphill): 845m
Altitude difference (downhill): 1.293m

Lowest point: 282m
Highest point: 748m
difficulty: medium
condition: medium
panoramic view: Dreamtour

Paths covering:
Asphalt, Path / trail, Gravel, Other

powered by TOURDATA