The Aar-Höhenweg (Aar High Trail) leads you 65 kilometres (40 mi) along the Aar, from its source in the Taunus to where it flows into the Lahn near Diez. The trail runs mostly along the forest edge above the valley. This means that there are always beautiful vantage points and the stages don't have too many ascents, with only 200 to 300 metres (650 - 1,000 ft) of elevation gain per day.

I hiked the trail over four days with daily walking times of no more than six hours. Over long stretches, the Aar-Höhenweg follows old paths that the Romans used to supply their forts. In keeping with Roman history, you can join the trail at the Zugmantel Roman fort and learn about the Limes, the Roman protective wall. You come across traces of the Romans and the Limes again and again during the hike.

The Aar-Höhenweg can be adapted to suit every type of hiker. Sporty hikers can complete the trail in two to three days. Families can spontaneously shorten the stages and take the bus that connects the towns in the Aar Valley. There are possibilities to stay overnight at the stage destinations. As a popular cycle path also runs along the Aar, I would advise you to plan and book accommodation in advance. In Michelbach and Hahnstätten, there are only a few guesthouses and inns and they get booked up quickly in summer.

My tip for a special Aar Valley experience is to take a rest day and ride the route of the disused Aartal railway. This way you can see the valley from its floor as well as from above.

The start point of the hike is the Zugmantel Roman fort. If you arrive by car, you can park at the hikers' car park. You then follow the Aar downstream to Diez on the Lahn and walk more downhill than uphill. From Diez, you can take the train to Limburg and catch the X72 bus back to your start point in about an hour. The X72 line also allows you to travel to the start point by public transport via Limburg or Wiesbaden stations. You can find current timetable information at: rmv.de/c/en/homepage.

If you enjoy your experience on the Aar-Höhenweg, feel free to write in the comments.