Cycle paths on railway lines offer a great advantage: Most of them have only slight inclines, which means that even children and adults not in top condition can enjoy the route. The Ruwer-Hochwald cycle path is one of the best. It connects the Trier district of Ruwer on the Mosel with the small town of Hermeskeil in the middle of the Hunsrück Hochwald over a distance of just under fifty kilometres. Slowly the landscape changes, vineyards give way to meadows and forests, now and then you’ll pass cosy villages. The Ruwer-Hochwald cycle path literally builds bridges – more than twenty of these structures give the route its variety. The RadBus also makes it possible for families to ride only partial routes.

Family holidays in the land of the Ruwer instil children with a love for nature... There is a botanical rarity near Farschweiler: the largest contiguous occurrence of the wood thistle in Rhineland-Palatinate. There are around 2.5 hectares of this rare plant here. Reason enough for a nature trail that not only illustrates the ecology of the wood thistle, but also the entire forest habitat. At the stations along the 3.4-kilometre-long nature discovery trail, it’s about more than just reading. It is so popular with children precisely because here they can understand – in a very sensual way – how people, animals and plants depend on each other. How far does a rabbit jump... to be tested in a jumping pit. How old is a tree... to be seen on a mighty tree slice. How was charcoal once produced... remains of an ancient pile show how.

The mix of picnics, nature discovery while hiking or walking and carefree water fun is what makes the Ruwer region so charming. And it’s something that families with smaller children really appreciate. It is precisely these experiences that are later remembered as an absolute holiday delight. Holidays with children here are a relaxed affair for parents or grandparents with plenty of room for spontaneity. Get up in the morning in a good mood, charm the weather gods and then start walking with a packed lunch – this is doable in the Ruwer region in an ideal and uncomplicated way.

This unadulterated happiness can also be found at the Riveristalsperre, at Holzerather See, at the water playground in Kasel or at the new picnic area above Sommerau Castle, which is surrounded by the Ruwer river. At the dam with its quiet location in the forest and very valuable as a drinking water reservoir, the picnic area was equipped with a water treading pool and a short barefoot path – refreshment, health and relaxation, what more could you want? The area surrounding the dam is a beautiful place to discover on the hiking trail around the Riveristalsperre.

Holzerather See with its sunbathing lawns, which sometimes offer sun and sometimes forest shade, is a paradise for those seeking to unwind. You won’t able to get the children off of the swing, balancing pole, flying fox or volleyball court. A great place to rest after a hike along the Holzerather See circular trail.
In Kasel, too, there is well-being on offer for all generations: Splashing, picnicking and playing in one. At the picnic area near Sommerau Castle, the biodiversity in the vineyards is also brought to life – enjoyment, history and environmental education go hand in hand.