Right hand track (Rechte Handspur) / Bad Gleichenberg-St. Stefan

From the centre of Bad Gleichenberg we walk through the spa park with its unique tree population and the bark chapel until shortly after the dilapidated Krügelei we branch off from the backbone back onto the hand track. It leads us over the Rudolfskogel with its beautiful view of Bad Gleichenberg and the Sulzbachtal valley to Trautmannsdorf.Through the very varied landscape with airy meadows and shady forests we reach Poppendorf. The course of the stream leads us through the village before we branch off in the direction of Poppendorf Castle. We meet the Kaskögerlweg, named after the small mountain that can call itself the westernmost volcano in the region. The signs lead us via the Schlossmoar, a very stimulating place that strengthens above all physical resistance via the thymus gland (behind the breastbone), to the centre of the market town of Gnas.We first walk through the village, then along the Gnasbach stream across the fields to Obergnas. From here, the path leads through the forest to Raffelegg and up the Kochberg with its overwhelming panoramic view of the landscape. This connection with the landscape is also the theme of the station of the 5-Element Path, which deals with the element earth. We now walk leisurely along the hill. We cross the main road and hike to Lichtenegg without any notable ascents, but still with many beautiful views. After crossing the ditch of the Ottersbach, which rises nearby, we finally come to a road where the Handspur meets the Grabenland Trail.We first follow both trails in the direction of St. Stefan, but then keep a little to the left along the Handspur in order to emerge from the forest at the Marienkapelle chapel. Here a wonderful view of St. Stefan im Rosental and the Saßbach valley opens up! Descending through the vineyard, we reach the centre of the market town of St. Stefan im Rosental in less than half an hour - and thus our destination.

Timetables and travel information can be found directly at: Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), Steiermärkische Landesbahnen (STLB), www.busbahnbim.at.

With the BusBahnBim app from Verbundlinie, timetable information has never been easier: all bus, train and streetcar connections in Austria can be queried by entering locations and/or addresses, stops or important points. The app is available as a free app for smartphones (Android, iOS) - on Google Play and in the App Store.

Tourist Office Thermen- & Vulkanland
Hauptstraße 2a
A-8280 Fürstenfeld
+43 3382 55 100
info@thermen-vulkanland.at
www.thermen-vulkanland.at