Sammelplatz – Gäbris – Hohe Buche – Leimensteig – Sammelplatz

This beautiful round walk of Appenzellerland does fill a whole day and features some of the best views from Gäbris, Hohe Buche and Leimensteig. It leads through rolling green hills and Alpstein can be seen almost throughout this walk.

Start at Sammelplatz, which you can easily reach by train. From here walk a short way uphill to the south of the main road and then through the fields towards Gais, which can be seen at the foot of Gäbris.

Once you reach Gais, a lovely little village, make your way up towards Gäbris. The views open up and there is a restaurant at the top that invites for a break.

At the top of Gäbris turn left and make your way down through the woods. Soon you will be back in the fields and walk past an old wind turbine from the 1920s. A bit further you pass some farm houses, one of them usually selling jam and then pass the road below.

On the other side of the road it’s uphill again until you arrive at restaurant Hohe Buche. The view up here is wonderful. There is a bench a little bit below the restaurant, though with the lovely view to be had from there, it is usually taken.

From the restaurant make your way down into Bühler. This is a very wonderful part of the walk with lovely views and in spring and summer it is covered in flowers.

Make your way into Bühler and back up on the other side. This is a bit of effort but it’s absolutely worth it. You will come out at Leimensteig on the top, a wonderful ridge with views of Alpstein.

From the farm just above Leimensteig, turn right and make your way through the fields. The path now leads along the ridge for a bit and then along the fields. Again wonderful views from here. You will get to a road, which you cross and then continue through more fields. Finally you will reach a farm at another small road.

Turn right along the road, which gently leads downhill. After a while you will reach more farmhouses, pass through another field and then reach a small road again. The hike now turn left along the road, but to your right you see the ruins of Burg Clanx. If you still have some energy, you could visit the ruins for another wonderful view.

For this hike though, turn left and follow the road and follow the signs back to Sammelplatz.

Turn off the road after a couple hundred meters, through some trees and back onto a small road on the other side. From here it’s an easy stroll back to Sammelplatz.