Granite Beer Tour: Stage 3
- culturally interesting
- Multi-day tour
Interactive elevation profile
Create PDF
Tour-Details
Paths covering:
“Biking along ridges, between rivers and on a plateau with stunning views”
Recommended season:
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
- Multi-stage route
- Scenic
- Refreshment stops available
- Cultural/historical value
- Geological highlights
- Botanical highlights
- Faunistic highlights
Highland biking with a rich variety of scenery, features and surprises along the slopes of the Kleine Mühl valley with crunchy climbs and fast descents. The route then crosses a series of secluded hinterland hills towards Sarleinsbach. Two ridges between rivers, which are typical of the region’s topography, are sure to provide an enjoyable ride – the first offering a robust physical challenge and the second promising pure fun. After a testing forest ascent from the Grosse Mühl valley come the delights of the panoramic plateau dotted with farms, where sublime biking through cultivated countryside meets fun on the trail between granite quarries. In Sankt Martin im Mühlkreis, a fabulous downhill stretch with views over the Danube Valley to the riverport of Untermühl delivers a spectacular end to the journey!
Highlights:
- Neufelden (historical market square, hop gardens)
- Secluded granite quarries (area in which famous Neuhauser granite is mined)
- Brauerei Hofstetten (oldest brewery in Austria, granite-filtered beer)
- Schloss Neuhaus palace (granite transport – end of field railway, start of cable car to Danube)
- Untermühl (port on the Danube, location from which famous Neuhauser granite is shipped)
Highland biking with a rich variety of scenery, features and surprises along the slopes of the Kleine Mühl valley with crunchy climbs and fast descents. The route then crosses a series of secluded hinterland hills towards Sarleinsbach. Two ridges between rivers, which are typical of the region’s topography, are then sure to provide an enjoyable ride – the first offering a robust physical challenge and the second promising pure fun. After a testing forest ascent from the Grosse Mühl valley come the delights of the panoramic plateau dotted with farms, where sublime biking through cultivated countryside meets fun on the trail between granite quarries. In Sankt Martin im Mühlkreis, a fabulous downhill stretch with views over the Danube Valley to the riverport of Untermühl delivers a spectacular end to the journey!
The historical market at Peilstein im Mühlviertel is the starting point for the final leg of the tour. Located on a hill above the Kleine Mühl river, its name is said to derive from a hunting ground. A fast loop spirals down into the valley, back up on the other side of the valley to Stierberg and then back again. This is followed by some majestic high ridge biking along the Kleine Mühl valley, taking in lonely farm roads, quaint forest paths, idyllic meadow routes, sublime views and more. Leisurely riding interspersed with crunchy climbs and fast descents! Highest point: in the mountainous forest between Rampetzreit und Hennerbach (640 metres). From Rutzersdorf, you climb a crisp double hill in the agricultural backcountry (highest point: Innerhötzendorf at 580 metres). After a brief chance to recharge your batteries riding through a secluded forested valley and then a tricky steep climb, you will have reached the historical market at Sarleinsbach. At the attractive market square stand the centuries-old grand houses of local farmers who made a prosperous living for themselves and acquired full rights as burghers in the town.
Then begins a special part of the Granite County highlands: the chance to bike down a ridge between rivers! After a rapid descent into Lichtenbach valley, you will begin to cross your first ridge between rivers (4.5 kilometres, 140-metre ascent, 180-metre descent) into the Kleine Mühl valley. The steep climb leads over a country lane, then onto a rough-and-ready forest trail to Obernberg (600 metres), the highest point. Congratulations! Let your heart rate come down for a while as you enjoy the stunning views. Finally, whiz through 3.2 kilometres of beautiful farmland accompanied by short counter-climbs into the forested Kleine Mühl valley. The route follows the river along a quiet country road.
In Hühnergeschrei, you will begin to cross your second ridge between rivers (8 kilometres, 220-metre ascent, 200-metre descent) into the Grosse Mühl valley. This stretch of the route takes the rider from deep forested valley up a high ridge also used for farming. After the village of Partenreit, the panorama opens up. Shortly afterwards, you will have reached the highest point (566 metres). Well done! Next up is a 3.2-kilometre section of pure joy, running through idyllic Mühlviertel countryside, past the fresh fragrances of the hop fields at harvest time, then onto an enjoyable trail alongside a shady stream wending its way through coniferous forest, before reaching a secluded collector road.
After a short counter-climb, you will be rolling into the baroque market square at Neufelden. Located on a headland surrounded by the Grosse Mühl river, the magnificent townhouses are testament to the prosperity generated through trade and commerce. The salt from Obermühl, too, was brought here on its way to Bohemia. The steep forest slope descends quickly to the Grosse Mühl, then the route follows the history-steeped river around the headland.
A rough-and-ready forest ascent takes you across to the panoramic plateau dotted with farms, beginning a sublime ride through the cultivated landscape with a feeling of almost endless expanse. Then, after a colourful patchwork of fields and a brief dip into the mini valley cradling a stream, beckons the village of Kleinzell im Mühlkreis. This is followed by one of the true gems of Granite Country biking: a 2.5-kilometre descent on which bikers can cruise down the enjoyable asphalt. Plus, there are some short trails past secluded quarries, where the famous Neuhaus granite is mined. Visitors interested in finding out more about granite mining in the region can visit the Erlebniswelt Granit open-air museum in Plöcking, which is just a kilometre’s detour away. From the deep, wooded mini valley in which Diesenbach stream flows, the sometimes challenging route leads around 170 metres up over a high ridge used for farming up to the house at Lanzersdorf 17, the highest point of the route up here on the plateau (595 metres). Congratulations! The following stretch allows you to recharge your batteries as you sail along with breath-taking panoramic views over the Alps. The path undulates somewhat as you head towards the Brauerei Hofstetten, the oldest brewery in Austria, and down towards Sankt Martin im Mühlkreis. The special importance of the village only becomes evident with a realisation of its history as a stop on the salt road to Bohemia. Top tip: Neuhauser granite, including in sculpture form, can be seen in the parish church’s artistic ribbed vault, and the region’s delicious granite-filtered beer bespeaks a long tradition of hospitality. Now, the way back to the deep Danube Valley begins. A fast-paced descent leads down into the secluded depression that is home to Dreissenbach stream, offering a surprise in the form of a brief but bumpy trail ascent through meadows and woodland. Afterwards, you will enjoy a fabulous panoramic view of the Danube Valley from a ridge – a true highlight of the trip! One short and fun ascent later, you will be crossing the final mini valley towards the magnificent Schloss Neuhaus, a private palace. It was here that the field railway once transported Neuhaus granite from the quarries by cable car down to the Danube. Afterwards, you will dive back into the ancient, forested gorge of the Danube Valley, racing down to the Danubeside port of Untermühl, where this same granite was loaded onto ships. Granite Country biking – an unforgettable experience!
further information:
- Multi-day tour
- Board possible
Public Transit
Location and getting there
How to arrive in the Danube Upper Austrian region?
The fast way to your destination – by train, bus, car, boat or plane.
- Spring
- Summer
- Autumn
Please get in touch for more information.
Lindengasse 9
4040 Linz
Phone +43 732 7277 - 800
Fax machine +43 732 7277 - 804
E-Mail info@donauregion.at
Web www.donauregion.at
Vis-à-vis users
1. The tours presented for hiking, walking, biking and road biking, mountain biking, motorbiking, horseback riding, climbing, cross-country skiing, and going on skiing and snowshoe tours etc. are to be considered non-paid tour recommendations and only serve as non-binding information. We have no intention of concluding a contract with the users of this website. The utilisation of the data does not lead to the establishment of a contract with us.
The data may only be used for private use; any commercial use is prohibited. In particular, it is not permissible to offer the data on commercially run websites, file-sharing platforms etc. or to use it to develop commercial products. Downloading data does not imply that users are granted rights to the data concerned.
The tour recommendations posted were created with utmost care; nevertheless, we assume no liability for the correctness and completeness of the information.
We point out that neither the tour recommendations included on this website nor the associated data and information were posted by us, but rather by third parties (Art. 16 Austrian E-Commerce Act). We have no influence on whether the details provided (e.g. distance, level of difficulty, change in altitude, description etc.) are authentic, correct and complete. We do not review these third-party contents. For this reason, we assume no liability for the authenticity, correctness and completeness of the information.
Construction-related measures or other influences (e.g. landslides and similar occurrences) can lead to temporary or permanent changes in a route (e.g. loss of a bridge and similar occurrences). Such occurrences can lead to part of the route or the entire route becoming impassable.
The use of the data as well as undertaking (riding, walking, taking etc.) the recommended tours or using the network of paths occurs at users’ own risk and on their authority. In particular, users themselves are responsible for the choice of route, outdoor orientation, adherence to traffic rules, supplies and equipment for tours listed in Point 1 (e.g. bicycle etc.), wearing a helmet, estimating their own fitness, recognising dangers and maintaining an appropriate velocity. We exclude ourselves from any liability whatsoever for damages, in particular accidents, that occur whilst taking part in the recommended tours.
2.Some of the tours lead over roads with normal traffic conditions. Please observe that there is an increased risk which can be avoided by means of appropriate attention and proper estimation and implementation of one’s own abilities. For this reason, please travel a route that is unfamiliar to you slowly and with special care. Pay constant attention to potential dangers and always observe traffic. Do not leave the routes featured in descriptions.
The potential use of private roads, in particular forestry roads and agricultural transport roads, can be subject to legal restrictions, which must be observed and adhered to.
The normal traffic rules apply. Each user (e.g. biker, motorbiker) is responsible for adhering to these rules and maintaining his/her bike/vehicle and its equipment (lights, brakes etc.) in good working order. Each user is also responsible for ensuring that he/she rides at a velocity that is appropriate for the conditions and his/her skill level and for maintaining sufficient distance to the rider in front. We explicitly recommend adjusting velocity to correspond to the respective field of vision, wearing a helmet, using reflective clothing (or similar) and employing bicycle lights in line with regulations.
3.Each tour requires good physical fitness as well as detailed planning. We explicitly recommend only taking the tours in the case of optimal healthiness.
We recommend that you conclude an accident and liability insurance policy. Use an onboard computer that displays the respective kilometres travelled per day and is calibrated for the front wheel.
4.Special for mountain bikers – Fair-play rules:
Mountain biking is one of the most wonderful outdoor leisure-time activities. Whilst biking or on a mountain biking tour, mountains and lakes, meadows and cabins are re-discovered in new ways. A couple of rules for fair play in the forest help to avoid conflicts whilst mountain biking.
a.Pedestrians have the right of way: We are accommodating and friendly to pedestrians and hikers. Upon encountering these fellow travellers, we alert them by using the bicycle bell and slowly overtake them. We avoid paths with heavy pedestrian traffic altogether. Take nature into account: We do not leave refuse behind.
b.The braking distance should be half of the total distance visible: We ride at a controlled pace, are ready to brake and maintain a braking distance half as long as the total distance visible, especially in curves, because we always have to count on obstacles on the path. Damage to the path, stones, branches, wood piles, grazing livestock, cattle grids, barriers, tractor-type forestry machines and authorised vehicles pose dangers that we need to be ready for.
c.Don’t drink and drive!: Do not drink alcohol when mountain biking. Take care at stop-off points (dealing with bike racks, dirty shoes or clothing).
It is obligatory to provide first aid!
d.Marked routes, closed paths and blockades: Keep to the marked routes, observe the blockades and accept that these roads are primarily for agricultural and forestry use!
Blockades can often not be avoided and are in your own interest. Biking beyond the intended path and outside of opening times is punishable and turns us into illegal bikers.
e.We are guests in the forest and behave accordingly, including vis-à-vis forestry and hunting staff. Whilst mountain biking, mobile telephones and music players are forbidden! Biking requires your full attention.
f.Avoid unnecessary noise. Out of consideration to the animals living in the wild, we only bike during full daylight. As a principle, we always wear our helmet (even when riding uphill)! Don’t forget emergency supplies: We always have a repair set and bandages along.
g.Don’t overestimate your skills: We should not overdo it when it comes to biking technique and physical fitness. Take the level of difficulty posed by the route into consideration and make a precise estimate of your experience and skills as a biker (braking, bell, lights)!
h.Close gates: We approach grazing livestock at a walking pace and close every gate behind us. We should avoid causing escape and panic reactions in the animals. Nothing stands in the way of the fun and athletic challenge in the mountains and forests!
i.Traffic rules: The general traffic rules (StVO) apply for all the mountain biking routes and we adhere to them. Our bike therefore needs to be in perfect technical condition and equipped in line with the traffic rules, including brakes, a bell and lights. We inspect and service our mountain bikes regularly anyway.
5.We assume no liability for the contents of external websites; in particular, we assume no liability for their statements and contents. Moreover, we have no influence on the design or contents of the websites to which hyperlinks on www.muehlviertel.at lead or from which hyperlinks lead to www.muehlviertel.at. There is no on-going review of websites to which hyperlinks on www.muehlviertel.at lead or from which hyperlinks lead to www.muehlviertel.at. We do not appropriate the contents of websites to which hyperlinks on www.muehlviertel.at lead or from which hyperlinks lead to www.muehlviertel.at.
Vis-à-vis bloggers
PLEASE OBSERVE:
1. Each of your tour recommendations for hiking, walking, biking and road biking, mountain biking, motorbiking, horseback riding, climbing, cross-country skiing, and going on skiing and snowshoe tours etc., along with other details and information, is free of charge. In particular regarding the correctness of the information, we assume no liability, nor do we assume any liability whatsoever for the consequences of the use of your tour recommendation by a third party (in particular by a user of this website). We do not review the tour recommendations you post, including other details and information, at any time.
We have no intention of concluding a contract with persons who post tour recommendations and/or other details and information on this website. Posting data (information) does not imply that a contract has been concluded.
By recommending a tour, we assume special responsibility vis-à-vis other athletes. Please take this responsibility seriously and describe your tour recommendation with utmost care and to the best of your knowledge and belief.
2.Your tour recommendations must therefore clearly and unambiguously include at least the following criteria and provide a sufficiently detailed description:
• Starting point
• Detailed route description
• Distance/Overall distance
• Level of difficulty
• Dangerous spots
• Average duration of trip
• Change in altitude
• Finishing point.
If possible, please provide the change in altitude.
3.When you post a tour recommendation, you give us the order to save your tour recommendation and/or the details you provide on our website and to make it/them accessible to third parties, in particular to users of this website, in the long term. We reserve the right to block or delete tour recommendations and/or other details and/or information that you post, either partially or entirely, at any time without providing a justification. Should this occur, it grants you no rights whatsoever.
Thank you for your efforts!
4. We are not responsible for the contents of external websites; in particular, we do not assume any liability for their statements or contents. Furthermore, we do not influence the design or contents of websites that can be accessed from www.muehlviertel.at via hyperlinks or that use hyperlinks to refer to www.muehlviertel.at. The websites that can be accessed from www.muehlviertel.at via hyperlinks or that use hyperlinks to refer to www.muehlviertel.at are not regularly monitored. Furthermore, we do not assume any claims to the websites that can be accessed from www.muehlviertel.at via hyperlinks or that use hyperlinks to refer to www.muehlviertel.at.
Interactive elevation profile
Create PDF
Tour-Details
Paths covering:
Granite Beer Tour: Stage 3
Ihre Anfrage
Do you have any questions? Do not hesitate to contact us!
Please fill in all fields marked *.
Propose changes
Please let us know how we can improve the quality of this property, or if there is any incorrect information on this page (e.g. opening hours, contact, etc.).
Please fill in all fields marked *.