Day 1: Arrival Make your own way by train or car to the hotel in Giengen an der Brenz (free parking near the hotel).

Day 2: Walk from Giengen an der Brenz to Stetten ob Lontal Who doesn’t know the teddy bear with the button in its ear? Giengen is its home. The Albschäferweg starts here and today ends in Stetten ob Lontal. Along the way you’ll meet shepherds with their sheep and goats, and at the end reach the World Heritage Site "Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura" in the Lonetal. The first stage features the Brenz floodplains, the Hürbetal, glorious forests and heathland. Over the Bruckersberg, past the Güssenburg ruins, you come to the Brenz river restoration area. It’s a great place to linger and observe nature from the Brenzturm. Continue towards Sontheim. The Panoramastein offers a magnificent view. Passing Niederstotzingen, you reach today’s destination, Stetten. (approx. 18 km, 270 metres of ascent).

Day 3: Walk from Stetten ob Lontal to Herbrechtingen Two things are a must on this stage – a visit to the Charlottenhöhle and a rest at the viewing platform at Domäne Falkenstein with views of the restored Brenz in the Eselsburger Tal. From Stetten you head through the Stettbergwald into the Lonetal and up to the Kaltenburg ruins. Just a stone’s throw away lies the World Heritage Site "Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura" with the Vogelherdhöhle, Hohler Stein and Bocksteinhöhle. Below the Kaltenburg is the Charlottenhöhle. At 587 m, it is one of the longest accessible show caves in southern Germany. Above Hürben, the Albschäferweg leads to Domäne Falkenstein with fantastic views of the Brenz in the Eselsburger Tal nature reserve. You descend on a lovely path to Anhausen (approx. 14 km, 150 metres of ascent).

Day 4: Walk from Herbrechtingen to Gerstetten You might know the word “cliff” from Rügen, but where would such a cliff be on the Swabian Jura? On this stage you walk along the Heldenfinger Kliff, part of the rocky coastline of the Tertiary Sea. Along the way, pristine valleys await, such as the Kießen- and Hungerbrunnen valleys. Through beech woods up onto the Alb, you continue through the Kießental to the Heldenfinger Kliff. A section of the rocky coast – today the boundary between the Kuppenalb and the Flächenalb – of the Tertiary Sea 15 million years ago. In the pitted rocks you can still see the work of boring bivalves and sponges. The Banzhaf family’s sheep farm lies on the way into the Hungerbrunnental. Through this secluded valley with a Hungerbrunnen typical of the Alb you reach the Gassen- and Säubere Tal. On the plateau, the Eglenseen beckon for a rest (approx. 18 km, 290 metres of ascent).

Day 5: Walk from Gerstetten to Steinheim am Albuch Earth history live – of all meteorite craters, the Steinheim Basin is the best-preserved crater in southern Germany, and unspoilt nature is guaranteed too. Extensive heathlands and colourful mixed forests delight the eye. This stage leads over glorious high plateaus, past broad heathlands and colourful mixed woodland. From the Eglenseen it’s not far to the water tower. You should take your first break at the “Drei-Wettertannen” barbecue site. A picture-book Alb village, surrounded by orchards and woodland, awaits. Then it’s on into the Stubental. Of all meteor craters, the Steinheim Basin is the best-preserved crater with a central hill anywhere in the world (approx. 19 km, 330 metres of ascent).

Day 6: Walk from Steinheim am Albuch to Zang Why the trail is called the “Albschäferweg” becomes clear at the Schafhof in Steinheim. More than 600 Merino sheep live here. In the Wental, thirty bizarre dolomitic limestone rocks – also known as a sea of rocks – stand, unbelievable but true. First, enjoy the unique crater landscape around Steinheim. Why the trail is rightly called the Albschäferweg you will discover at the Schafhof in Steinheim. Around 600 Merino ewes and 10 Merino rams live here. Follow an old sheep drive up the Hitzinger Steige to the Kinderfestplatz (approx. 16 km, 340 metres of ascent).

Day 7: Walk from Zang to Heidenheim an der Brenz From the ski jump to the lake, from the Ostalb heights into the Brenz valley – variety is guaranteed. A round of paddling in the fresh spring water of the Brenz will revive tired walking legs, and at the Itezelberger See it’s time for a relaxing break. “All I know for sure: if you know Zang, you have to love it,” so says the local song. If you like rest benches, the Bänklesweg in Zang is just the thing. Past the so-called Waldsiedlung, you follow winding paths to the Herwartstein ruins. It’s worth making a short detour to the Brenzquelle here. Below the Herwartstein rocks you also come to the Itzelberger See. The lake was once created by monks, as fish sufficed as a fasting meal. Through extensive forests, you climb steadily up to the Albuch and reach the Hahnenschnabel, with far-reaching views and a nod to shepherds’ tales (approx. 16 km, 290 metres of ascent).

Day 8: Walk from Heidenheim an der Brenz to Giengen an der Brenz The finale – once again, extensive forests and glorious heathland await. All Albschäferweg walkers are thankful to the sheep – they are the landscape gardeners of the Heidenheim Alb. Near Oggenhausen you meet the Holzweg with interactive stations. On the Rötenberg, the final ascent is barely noticeable. Through the typical heathland of the Swabian Jura you reach the teddy-bear town of Giengen. Who doesn’t know the cuddly toys with the button in their ear? (approx. 18 km, 300 metres of ascent)

Day 9: Departure Individual departure by car or train.

Circular route on the Albschäferweg: in 7 stages and just under 120 km through the Heidenheimer Brenzregion. Start and finish are in Giengen an der Brenz. The path links the Brenz floodplains, the Lonetal with UNESCO World Heritage caves and Ice Age art, Charlottenhöhle, Eselsburger Tal, Heldenfinger Kliff, Wental and the Steinheimer Becken. Encounters with sheep farms and heathland are a hallmark of the route. Walking with luggage transfer: your suitcase travels ahead, you walk with a light daypack and stay in comfortable accommodation.

Public transport fares are extra.