Our hike begins at the Buschmühle - today a stop in the Kirnitzschtal valley. On the opposite side of the road from the Buschmühle, the road to Ottendorf or Sebnitz branches off. The steep ascent to Arnstein begins on the right. At the first crossroads we keep to the left (marked with a yellow dot and line). We walk halfway around the Arnstein and climb the marked path up to the former rock castle Arnstein.
In the Middle Ages, a fortress stood on top of the Arnstein - wooden, relatively small, but belligerently dangerous. Trade routes were raided and villages plundered from this robber baron's nest. Today, Arnstein Castle, also known as Ottendorf Castle, is one of the most fascinating rock castles in Saxon Switzerland, with stone traces of the former wooden construction, rock drawings and a deep cistern.
We then descend the detour to the summit plateau and continue to follow the yellow dot/dash to the right, also at the next junction. After a climb through the forest, we reach the Tägers Wonne vista with views of the Lorenzsteinen, Großer Winterberg, Winterstein and Heulenberg. At the next crossroads, keep to the right and follow the Räumichtweg with the yellow line marking to the right in the direction of Saupsdorf. We first walk through a beech forest, later along fields. We approach Saupsdorf, but do not enter the village, but turn right following the red line marking.
After about half an hour we reach the Kleinstein with a view of the Affensteinen, the Lorenzsteinen, the Zätzschenhorn opposite and the Heulenberg. We reach the Kleinstein Cave after descending steep lattice stairs. Like the cowshed, it is an approximately 10-metre-high rock gate in the sandstone.
After the descent, we keep to the right and continue hiking on the New Trail with the red line marking until we get back to the starting point. After the hike, it is worthwhile to stop at the Buschmühle.
GPS data updated 2021
