Überruhr-Herdecke and back along the Ruhr 108 km

Cycling trip along the Ruhr River between Überruhr-Rellinghausen and Herdecke, and back. Near the start, at the Konrad-Adenauer-Brücke, the trip connects to another trip along the Ruhr, from the Rhine to Überruhr (see https://nl.wikiloc.com/routes-fietsen/duisburg-uberruhr-and-back-along-the-ruhr-105-km-92701235). Trip largely on cycling paths along the river. The trip offers floodplains, meadows, hills, woods, industry, reservoirs, bridges, wetlands, castles, and villages. I did the trip on a road bike, but there are two short sections with semi-paved cycling paths, not too difficult on a road bike. The cycling path on the Harkortsee was partly out of operation during my trip due to damage during the flooding in 2021. Some cycling paths are also used by pedestrians, so watch your speed there. Note that at very high water levels, some cycling paths along the river may be blocked. There are frequent opportunities to eat and drink something.
The trip starts at a free parking near the Konrad-Adenauer-Brücke. From the start you directly access the cycling path Grugaweg (former railroad). The path crosses two bridges near a factory and ends at the Kurt Schumacher Brücke. Here another cycling path starts taking you to Horst. In Horst you cycle away from the river into town and then up to Horsterholz, a wood near a castle. You descend back to the river and then follow it on another cycling path with bricks along the river. You leave the river at Dahlhauzen and continue along a road and then go up and down a bit away from the river near Baak. You descend back to the river at Winzerberg and follow a cycling path along the river to Rauendahl. Here is a minor forest road through the Rauendahler Wald. At the end you continue on the Brockhause Strasse and then take a cycling path through the river floodplain across from Burg Blankenstein. The cycling path takes you to the reservoir dam of the Kemnader See, where you take a look, and you then follow a cycling path all the way along the reservoir. There are separate paths for cyclists, pedestrians and in-line skaters, the one for the cyclists unfortunately being the lesser good. You cross a bridge at Hafen Heveney and continue on the cycling path towards Heven. Here you leave the river, cycle up through town and take a road with occasional views of the Ruhr valley towards Witten. You go through Witten and take the main road B226 to Wetter. In Wetter you take a look at the castle and then continue on the main road along the Harkortsee (as the cycling path was closed). You access the cycling path where it is possible and continue along the lake to the rail Ruhr Viadukt and then along Herdecke to the Ruhr bridge. You cross the bridge and cycle inland to the Obergrabenbrücke near Wetter. After the bridge you take cycling paths with occasional semi-paved stretches to the Overwegbrücke. Here the Ruhrtalradweg starts which you follow along the river to Wengern. In Wengern you take a trip away from the river on the Elbschetalbahn, a cycling path on a former rail road. At the end, you take a climb the L525 and cycle back to the Ruhr valley at Bommern. Here you follow the river towards the Nachtigallbrücke, which you cross. A cycling path along the L924 takes you towards Herbede. You follow the Ruhr on a semi-paved cycling path near a foot ferry and locks. You then cross the Ruhr back on the Lake-Brücke. Here you enter a cycling path along the Kemnader See, again with the paths for in-line skaters and pedestrian being separate. At the reservoir dam you follow the cycling path inland past the Haus Kemnade castle and then take the L924 up to Burg Blankenstein, a castle in a picturesque village. You take a look and the cross the town of Welper before descending back to the Ruhr. A paved towpath takes you along the river towards Hattingen. Here the towpath continues through meadows and along the river towards Isenberg. Near this hill the cycle path ends, but then starts again taking you to Dahlhausen and then on to Überruhr. The whole stretch from Hattingen is one of the best parts of this route, close to the river and with a lot of green. It is also quite busy with other cyclists here. At Überruhr you leave the river and cycle towards the Konrad-Adenauer Brücke which you cross to get back to the start.