Start your family hike leisurely and without rushing, with lots of anticipation, by marching from the starting point at the Schilcherland stadium in St. Stefan ob Stainz, first left over the bridge and then immediately left again onto a field path and along the football training ground towards the east. You might find room for a small ball in one of the rucksacks, then nothing stands in the way of a short match with the children. After that, always follow this path until you come to a fork in the road.
Here you have to choose one of the two path variants.
The short loop with a length of 1.8 kilometres leads along the meadow path on the left, over a small bridge and then slightly uphill into the centre of St. Stefan. On the meadow you have the opportunity to have a cosy picnic or pick a bouquet of flowers.
The longer version of this hike leads to the right into the forest and after a few metres to the left until you reach the municipal road, where you will soon see a wayside shrine. From here it is only a few metres straight ahead to the "Buschenschank Niggas vulgo Schleicher". Stop in and enjoy a sandwich or a light salad. There is something for everyone on the varied menu. Wine lovers will also get their money's worth here.
You can also take a shortcut here and follow the municipal road to the left until you reach the bridge, where you go straight on and somewhat steeper, over the pumpkin farm of the Oswald family, into the centre of the village.
Or turn right before the bridge and always follow the "Genuss Schilchern" markings. Along the Lemsitzbach stream, the trail leads you to a farm, which you cross and then you pass a horse stable. Here you can watch the horses grazing or jump a few flat stones over the water, the children will thank you.
Then cross a bridge and after 100 metres turn left onto the gravel road, which leads slightly uphill, to the Sonnenhang settlement, where you can already see the church of St. Stefan. Continue to follow the markings and turn right.
Cross the L314 main road and walk along the pavement to the centre of the village. The centre offers you some ideal culinary options to round off your hiking day. You pass the rustic "Gasthaus der Familie Auer" and the "Cafehaus Ebner" before arriving in front of the parish church. A schnitzel and a salad with pumpkin seed oil for refreshment would probably not be too bad.
Well fortified, turn left and walk along the main square, past the "Cafehaus Kainz" towards the south, until you reach a fork in the road. Follow the "Genuss Schilchern" signs and a footpath on the right leads back to the L314, past the "Gasthaus Mediterran" to the "Hecher" car dealership. From here it is only a few metres to the left to the starting point, the car park at the "Schilcherlandstadion".