Eckental lies in the hilly landscape of the Schwabach Valley, near Franconian Switzerland and the Sebalder Reichswald forest. Different options can shape your travel plans: hiking trails of various lengths, the fitness and health park, and traces of local history. Eschenau is a useful reference point: a longer circular hike starts there, and the town is served by the RB 21 railway line.
Hiking trails for different distances
Eckental offers eight circular hiking trails of varying lengths, as well as eight shorter walking paths in and around the municipality. You can choose between circular routes and shorter paths. Check locally which trails are available before setting out.
One specific example is the route “To Old Castles and Churches in and around Eckental.” It starts at Eschenau railway station, is 16 kilometres long and is classified as an easy hike. It is listed as taking around four hours, with 78 metres of elevation gain. The route description dates from September 2011; check the current trail conditions before setting out.
The municipality provides GPX downloads for its hiking trails; the route data reflect the 2019/20 status. It also recommends a free folding hiking map, available at the town hall reception. GPX data and the folding map offer different ways to navigate, while checking trail availability and conditions locally is part of planning a specific hike.
A different way to exercise in the forest
Eckental’s fitness and health park is located in a forest between Eckenhaid and Herpersdorf. Its circular course is 2.1 kilometres long and has nine training stations. This offers a different focus from a hike, where distance, elevation gain and route are the main planning considerations. When planning your time in Eckental, you can think of these options as different forms of exercise rather than treating them as equivalent routes.
Eschenau as a reference point for travel and accommodation
The RB 21, known as the Gräfenbergbahn, serves Eschenau and runs between Nürnberg Nordost and Gräfenberg. Together with the starting point of the 16-kilometre route, this makes Eschenau a specific reference point for planning. If you plan to travel by train or take the circular hike, you can check how far each hotel is from the station when choosing accommodation. Consult the current timetable for your travel day.
Traces of local and milling history
The Brander Mill was one of the oldest of the 29 mills on the Schwabach and was probably built around 1300. Milling operations have ceased. A memorial with a commemorative plaque has also been established in Forth, in the area known as “In der Fraisch.” The two sites offer different points of connection to local history: the mill points to the Schwabach’s former use, while the memorial site reflects the history of remembrance in the Forth area.
Eckental’s present-day municipal structure also has a more recent history. On 1 July 1972, Benzendorf, Eckenhaid, Eschenau with Oberschöllenbach, Forth with Frohnhof, Herpersdorf and Unterschöllenbach were combined to form the municipality of Eckental. Brand was added in 1978. Eckental comprises 13 districts—a reminder that today’s municipality grew out of several former villages.
Audio trails as another option
The Eckental audio trails comprise three audio trails. They were created as part of the “Klingende Landschaften” (“Sounding Landscapes”) project with the local adult education centre and Bayerischer Rundfunk, and were published online on BR websites. They add an audio format to the hiking options: alongside trails and training stations, you can also include audio trails in your exploration of Eckental.
Discover more destinations: Bubenreuth, Kalchreuth, Gremsdorf, Marloffstein, Wachenroth, Hemhofen, Heßdorf, Röttenbach.
For the regional travel overview: Erlangen-Höchstadt.
