Schwalefeld-Hallenberg-Kahler Asten-Schwalefeld 98 km

Nice roundtrip for road bikes. Highlights are the ascent to Winterberg on the new cycle path on a former railway (Ruhr Eder Radweg) from Hallenberg, quiet countryside around Dreislar, the view from the Kahler Asten, and the long descent through the Neger valley.
The trip starts near the place where our holiday home was, in Schwalefeld. You directly climb out of the village to Ratlar, with a 9% stretch. From Ratlar, you climb out of the Wiedbach valley to about 670 m, and then descend to Usseln on some wide turns. Shortly after Usseln, there is a steep descent on a small road to Düdinghausen (415 m). Here you continue on the L854 to Oberschledorn and you follow this road on an easy climb past 482 m towards Medebach. With good views of this part of Sauerland you descend into Medebach and descend further to the lowest point at 358 m in the Orke valley. At Medelon you climb a quiet country road towards Dreislar, and another quiet road to Braunshausen. In Braunshausen there is an unexpected steep climb in the village. It is only a short stretch to Hallenberg where you enter the cycle path to Winterberg (see waypoint). This cycle path has been recently constructed on a former railroad and takes you slowly up from about 390 m in Hallenberg to 665 m in Winterberg. It is a great cycling path with excellent views. Near Winterberg, you pass some ski slopes. In Winterberg you need to take some busy roads to get to the Kahler Asten, the highest paved point in Sauerland at 841 m. The last stretch is a dead-end road to the top. After admiring the views, you descend towards Altastenberg. From here, a long descend starts through the Neger valley on a small road through a wooded valley to Siedlinghausen and then on a busier road to Brunskappel (404 m). Shortly after the village you take a smaller road across a 470 m hill to get to the Ruhr valley at Wiemeringhausen. You follow the Ruhr valley to Assinghausen where another climb awaits you from 395 to 508 m. After descending to Bruchhausen there is a climb on a busy road from 447 m to 552 m with a good view of the rock formations of the Bruchhauser Steine on your right. You then descend into the Schmalah valley where a busy road slowly ascending to Willingen at 593 m awaits you. Just before Willingen ski slopes open up on the right side on the highest hills of Sauerland (a.o. Langenberg at 843 m). In Willingen you take the slightly descending road through the Itter valley back to Schwalefeld.
You can find something to eat and drink in e.g. Hallenberg, Winterberg, the Kahler Asten, and Willingen.