Scots (SW). Hiking and more and more cycling are two offers with which Scots and the Vogelsberg tourist region can proliferate. This was emphasized by Ralph Koster from the municipal tourism organization and Ilka Schacht from Vogelsberg Touristik GmbH at an appointment on the Hohe Rodskopf. The occasion was the presentation of documents for the post -certification of three premium hiking trails by the German hiking institute.

The quality hiking trails are the heart of the offers for the enjoyable and relaxing discover of the Vogelsberg landscape. A total of twelve of these special paths attract relaxation seekers, as the two experts emphasize. »The premium hiking trails are the figurehead of our hiking offers. They have a high level of experience, «says Schacht. The seal primarily documents the good markings, the high quality and the experience of a path.

Dr. Randolf Manderbach convinced, who carried out the post -certification. The focus was on the Höhenrundweg and the summit tour in the high-raids of the volcanic mountain and the Eschenrod reservoir tour. All twelve premium hiking trails of the Destination Vogelsberg are certified, plus also a premium walks, which is particularly suitable for families and also people with restricted mobility. It is mostly flat and is significantly shorter than the other ways.

After certification is carried out every three years, as the hiking expert explained. After that, the employee of the association located in Marburg is based on a detailed catalog of criteria. “We divide a hiking trail into different sections. For each section, a point evaluation is carried out on the basis of the criteria and the individual results added up at the end of the assessment, «emphasizes Manderbach.

A certain point brand must be achieved so that the certification can be renewed. Around 40 criteria are used. In particular, this includes a high level of experience, a very good marking of the course of the path and, above all, little asphalt. “If a hiking trail is more than 15 percent paved, this is an exclusion criterion for the award,” said the assessor.

Good instrument for marketing

The width, flooring or the presence of resting benches, in connection with viewpoints, also include to record the quality of a hiking trail. The entire area through which the hiking trail leads also flows into the evaluation with points. The complex evaluation system has been developed on the basis of annually carried out surveys by the hiking institute. “This hiking monitor is a good basis for our assessments,” says Manderbach. After all, refreshments for the quality of a hiking trail would also be taken into account.

Koster emphasizes the high priority of the technical assessment. “The premium hiking trails are a good marketing instrument for us.” And in this context, Schacht refers to the brochure presented by Vogelsberg touristics with the offer of premium hiking trails. “It has been shown that many visitors delegate the certified hiking trails of a region to explore another destination afterwards.” The German hiking institute takes care of the certification of hiking trails all over Germany and in the neighboring regions of Denmark, Belgium, Holland, France, Luxembourg, Austria and Switzerland. More than 640 hiking trails with a total of almost 11,000 hiking kilometers are recorded.