Today a circular hike around Lerbach was on the agenda. The goal was two stamp points of the Harzer Wandernadel at once: the Eselsplatz and the Kuckholzklippe. I started at the Mühlenteichbaude, where the path first climbs quite steeply. After just a few minutes the view opens up over Lerbach – a lovely start that leaves you wanting more.
After a short climb I reached the point where the path meets the Harzer Hexenstieg. From here the trail continues through the forest, past rocks and along narrow paths, until you finally reach the Eselsplatz. Unfortunately, the small hut there is locked, which is a bit of a shame, but the surroundings make up for it: a quiet clearing surrounded by dense greenery, with stamp point no. 140 – the first goal of the tour.
From there it was back down to Lerbach, through the village and uphill again on the other side. The next section is a tough one – the steepest 300 metres of the whole tour lead up to the Kuckholzklippe. The climb is worth it: at the top there is an observation tower with a wide view over the Harz. The second stamp point is right next to it.
After a short break I started the way back. The path leads a little way towards Buntenbock before turning right again and heading back to the starting point. The descent demands concentration once more – especially from your knees – but the landscape and the feeling of having two more stamps in your booklet make up for everything.
All in all, it was a varied tour with lovely views, challenging climbs and quiet moments in the forest. Anyone who loves the Harz and its little surprises will certainly enjoy this loop around Lerbach.
