Our 2nd outing during this stay in the Waldviertel takes Murphy, Archie, my favourite man and me to Hochmoor Schrems. Early at 8:30 a.m. on this Saturday at the end of June, we find ourselves in the car park at the Unterwasserreich.
We can already tell it's going to be a hot day.
A few facts about Hochmoor Schrems
The Schremser peat bog, at 300 hectares, is the largest bog in Lower Austria. 119 hectares are placed under nature protection and declared a nature park. It has been a nature reserve since the year 2000.
The Unterwasserreich is a very popular family day-trip destination. Dogs are not allowed in the exhibition itself, but they are very welcome in the nature park — visitors are simply asked to keep them on a lead.
We follow this rule and choose the Tut gut - Route 1 at 4.5 km.
The Tut gut - Route 1
The four of us follow the signs and first come across a red boat. Naturally, Archie, Murphy and I have to board it, give it a thorough inspection and enjoy the view.
A beautiful green meadow lines the path as we walk on until we pass a small (man-made) stone cave, which is sure to be a highlight for children.
Up towards the treetops: the Himmelsleiter
We turn slightly right into the forest, and on the next clearing the Himmelsleiter already towers into the sky with its 108 steps.
Upside-down trees greet us, and some enormous tree trunks invite us to a little photo session (see title image).
After that, my favourite man carries Murphy and I carry Archie 20 metres up the metal staircase towards the sky. Once at the top, Archie needs a break. As if HIS thighs were trembling from climbing stairs with extra weight.... :)
We enjoy the view, 'shoulder' the Frenchies, trot the 108 steps back down and continue on our way.
View from the Himmelsleiter
The bog and the Prügelsteg
On the way to the Prügelsteg we can enjoy the raised bog in all its natural beauty and tranquility.
The Prügelsteg is a walkable platform over an open bog area where the fascinating flora and fauna can be observed particularly well.
How to get brown legs: the Moortretbecken
The next experience is the Moortretbecken (peat wading pool). I hadn't given any thought beforehand to whether I'd actually wade through it. But since we're already here!
Using the two handrails on either side, I try to step into the basin. However, it's so deep that even with mud up past my knee I still can't feel the bottom. OK, that's a bit too muddy for my liking.
My favourite man points me to another spot that's probably shallower. That works much better and I march through the dark-brown, soft bog. It has some kind of cleansing effect — even if that sounds completely wrong ;)
Archie and Murphy find my bog-covered feet absolutely fascinating and sniff them intently. Since it was a spontaneous decision and we have no towel in our rucksack (only in the car), I have no choice but to walk the rest of the trail barefoot.
A very primal feeling that has a centering and liberating effect on me. It also helps me understand much better which surfaces are comfortable for Archie to walk on with his supersensitive paws and which are not.
Conclusion on the Hochmoor Schrems loop
A lovely, short and easy loop with a few fun highlights along the way. A place for the dogs to swim would of course have been the absolute highlight on such a hot day — but that's exactly why we were out early ;)
Tour details
- Pace: leisurely
- Stated walking time: 1 hour
- Our time: 1.5 hours
- Distance: 4 km
- Ascent: 12 m
- Descent: 12 m
- Highest point: 546 m
- Lowest point: 533 m
Dog facts
- Walk mainly on lovely forest paths and tracks, partly gravelled.
- Easy walk and very straightforward route.
- We didn't find any place for the dogs to swim here.
- That day we hardly came across any walkers, hikers or dog owners. Those we did meet were all very relaxed and considerate.
A dip in the cool water — Moorfreibad Schrems
Unfortunately we didn't find any way for the two woofers to cool off physically — though we had plenty of drinking water with us — but I treated myself to a refreshing dip at the Moorbad Schrems, with free entry.
With the ulterior motive of cleaning my legs up a little:
It actually took a few days until everything was completely gone from my legs and feet. You could also call it a natural self-tanner — and yes, I did use shower gel :D
Ice cream in Weitra
On our last Waldviertel holiday we had already visited Weitra. This time, too, we were drawn back to the medieval market town to pick up souvenirs from the Waldviertler Land-Laden and indulge in ice cream from the Eisgreissler.
