The "Tier mal Vier" hiking trail in the Styrian Schilcherland region offers a special kind of enjoyment hike. You are on your way for about three and a half hours over a distance of ten kilometres.
You start at the foot of the beautiful Reinischkogel at the first of the four "Tier mal Vier" inns, the Rauchhof, in Stainz. Here you have the opportunity to fortify yourself with culinary delights for your tour. At the beginning you follow the Marhofer Genusswanderweg with the number 11 - along the Stainzbach stream, past old farms and over beautiful orchards. The typical houses of Western Styria with their flower decorations are also popular photo motifs.
After about 20 minutes, follow Mitterweg past the Schriebl organic farm to the next junction. Turn right onto Rieglerweg and walk steeply uphill to the Schriebl winery. A special wine tasting is offered here. It begins with a tour of the vineyard, so that you can experience the creation of the wine right from the blossoming vine. Once at the top of the vineyard, it is time to taste the first varieties of wine.
Afterwards, the trail leads through beautiful vineyards up to the Marhofberg, always in the direction of Sommereben on the Reinischkogel, where a wonderful panoramic view of the Schilcherland is revealed. In autumn, the mist lies mystically below you and in between the forest shimmers colourfully in all the colours of this season.
At the next fork in the path, turn left and walk along path number 59 through a somewhat steeper forest and through wonderfully beautiful vineyards to the Buschenschank Kugler. Once there, cross the road and continue in the direction of Sommereben am Reinischkogel. After about two hours you will reach the next "Tier mal Vier" inn - the Jagawirt. It is especially fun to watch the small and large pigs playing in their spacious enclosure. Rabbits, goats and sheep can also be admired. An experience for young and old. The farm is particularly famous for its wonderfully juicy roast pork.
The route remains enjoyable and along romantic forest paths past the Reinbacher Inn and the Wilddamm enclosure, it takes 30 minutes to reach the third "Tier mal Vier" inn, the Wassermann Inn. Take the opportunity, you rarely get so close to red deer. An unforgettable experience.
From here you walk through a short section of forest, past blackberry bushes, to a beautiful flat path, which you follow until the final ascent. The trail now takes on an increasingly alpine pasture character and leads you up to an altitude of 1,080 metres to the last "Tier-mal-Vier" inn. After a good three hours you have reached your destination - the Klugbauer. The shaggy highland cattle will delight you with their good nature.
Let the day's hike come to an end here in a cosy atmosphere; there are bound to be the first funny animal stories to tell in the group.