Simply press pause. Leave everything behind and clear your head at the front door. I think that one of the best ways to do that is to take a little time out for a hike and in the Lippe Uplands and there’s a wonderful hiking trail for this exact purpose. You can either walk this trail in one go over a long weekend or explore the stages individually.

From the very first steps of the Rune Trail, you’re immediately in the lush, green, hilly landscape of the Lippe Uplands, experiencing places that lift the heart and sights that will long remain in the memory.

Officially, the Rune Trail leads you over 73 kilometers (45 mi) from Porta Westfalica to the Senne near Schlangen. I’ve divided it into three stages, which are between 23 and 29 kilometers (14–18 mi) long. Of course, you’re free to divide the path into more, shorter stages.

The Rune Trail has one main goal: to show you the incredibly diverse landscapes of the Lippe Uplands with mountainous trail sections and wide vistas. At the same time, it leads you to the most beautiful cultural sites of the region. A highlight is a visit to the Externsteine sandstone rock formation. From a culinary point of view, let yourself be enchanted by the Lippe cuisine in the many inns. One thing is for sure: the love for the Lippische Pickert, a dish with delicious potato pancakes, is guaranteed to fill you up.

The trail is named after the rocky runes of the Externsteine. In addition to the famous relief of the cross, symbols have also been found in the stone walls. For decades, these runes have attracted scientists and streams of visitors.

You can plan your arrival and departure on the Runes Trail comfortably by train. Porta Westfalica has a train station and, from Schlangen, it’s only a stone's throw to nearby Paderborn, whose main train station offers good connections. If you want to walk a stage individually, you can use the local bus network to get around: lippemobil.de/(in German).