Berdorf B2 Trail: The Best Short Hike in the Mullerthal

How about that for a way to start a hiking trail??

Just a few hundred metres from the start of the Berdorf B2 trail, mere minutes from the low-drama “Beim Maartbesch” car park, this series of metal bridges – suspended over a narrow, rocky canyon – immediately induce the “Wow!” factor, and let you know that you’re in for a rather special hiking treat.

And the “B2 Trail” IS special: This 4km hike (in reality you’ll do +/- 5km since there’s so much to explore) has probably the greatest concentration of sights-per-kilometre of any hiking trail in Luxembourg, and is a huge hit with the kids too. Arrive at the bottom of the canyon, for example, and there’s another “Wow!” moment waiting for you.

This is the “Raiberhiel” (Robbers’ Den) – yikes! Crawl through the crevice on the left, hold your nerve up the almost-vertical metal ladders and, assuming you survive, exit via the “Adlerhorst” (Eagles’ Nest) on the right.

Sounds too hardcore? Don’t worry! If you’re doing this hike with dogs, young kids or vertigo-sufferers there is another way around it (finding it is part of the fun), and either way you’ll soon find yourself at the “Teufelsinsel” (Devil’s Island). Again, if you are with very young children I would skip exploring this one – there are some sheer cliffs all around it, and no protection barriers.

Continuing to follow the clear white-and-blue “B2” signs, you’ll find yourself descending narrow stone staircases with sheer cliffs rising to your right. Once you’re safely back down in the canyons, you might be forgiven for thinking that the drama is behind you. But no, the route just keeps on getting prettier and prettier…

After another kilometre or so of rocky wonderland, just past the “Waanterbaach” rock climbing site (can get busy in spring and summer), you’ll reach the highlight of the tour for the younger ones – the spellbinding “Siebenschlüff” (Seven Gorges).

The concept of this natural playground is simple: from the entrance, find and follow the numbers from 1 to 7 to guide you around this rock labyrinth. It only takes a few minutes (and, really, there is no chance of getting lost), but it will put a smile on your kids’ faces for the next week at least.

Then, just when you thought you couldn’t possibly cram anything more into a single short hike, you arrive at my vote for the prettiest viewpoint in all of Luxembourg – the “Kaasselt“.

And peak Mullerthallyness has been achieved!

Frankly, the last 1.5km back to the starting point – through a pleasantly rocky forest landscape – never quite lives up to the drama of the first three kilometres. But, really, what could?

A highly recommended short hike showcasing the very best of the Mullerthal.

All images and text (c) 2021 Jonathan Orr