Im Leiblachtal: Von der Quelle der Leiblach auf der Spur alter Mühlen - Westallgäuer Wasserweg 24

Hammerschmiede
From the parking lot, the path first leads to the former hammer mill in Riedhirsch. The forge, including the bone stamping mill, dates back to the 17th century and is still partially preserved inside. It used to be powered by water from the Leiblach. As the hammer mill is privately owned, it is unfortunately not open to visitors.

Leiblach spring
From the hammer mill, the trail continues via Riedhirsch to the source of the Leiblach. The
water flows crystal clear from the tapped spring and pours into a small meadow ditch. A small rest area invites you to take a look and linger. As the hike continues, you come across the rapidly widening Leiblach again and again. The stream drains the western Allgäu hills and eventually flows into Lake Constance as the border river between Lindau-Zech and the Austrian town of Hörbranz.

Hammermoos
From the source of the Leiblach, follow the same path back to the Hammerschmiede. From there, follow the
road towards Wolfertshofen, which leads through a small forest to Hammermoos. A narrow path leads into the moor, which is well worth seeing and where peat used to be mined. This can be seen particularly well at the small peat tapping, which has been made accessible via a wooden walkway. After visiting the Hammermoos, you first walk a short distance along the same path back into the small forest. Passing the sports facilities, the path continues to the former Katzenmühle

Katzenmühle
The plaque on the Katzenmühle states that the mill was built in 1797. However, there is some evidence that the mill is 160 years older - even if it was originally known by other names such as Bäckelesmühle, Bärlesmühle or Muggenmühle. Grinding operations at the Katzenmühle ceased in 1945.

Ölmühle
The route continues below the mini golf course to the former Ölmühle. As the name suggests, it was not a grain mill. Instead, flax was ground into oil here. The mill was also used as a bone crusher and was in operation until 1907. The mill was demolished in 1999. Today, a modern residential building stands on the former mill site.

Großenmühle
The path continues along the Leiblach to a sawmill, the former Großenmühle, which
was already in operation in the 16th century. It is unclear where the mill's name comes from: On the one hand, the Großenmühle was owned by the Groß family for a long time. On the other hand, it was also the largest mill in Heimenkirch. The mill was in operation until 1943, the old mill was demolished in 1974. The new sawmill is still in operation.

Buhmühle
Past the Kneipp pool and the outdoor pool, the trail continues along the Leiblach river to the former
Buhmühle in Meckatz. Here you pass a lovely rest area where you can admire some granite blocks from the Silvretta group. The mill itself has probably been in operation since the 17th century. The last grain was milled in 1914, but the mill continued to run until 1951.

Mothenmühle
There are two tours to choose from at the Buhmühle. The longer one leads via Meckatz, Kappen and Biesenberg to the former Mothenmühle mill, which was already in operation in the 17th century.
Until 1906, corn was mainly ground there. There was also a bone crusher in the Mothenmühle.
The mill produced timber until 1973, including planks for cowsheds. Just opposite, after the Leiblachbrücke, is the Epple sawmill, which was operated with Leiblach water until 1970. Via Mapprechts, the Mühlenweg leads to a beautiful oak tree, which you can approach on the shorter second tour directly from the Buhmühle. On the hill, the route leads to Oberhütten with the pretty memorial chapel, which was built in 1838 by local residents so that the Lord would spare them from storms and tempests in the future. The view over Heimenkirch, Meckatz, the Nagelfluh mountain range and Lake Constance from the panoramic Bodenseekreuz is particularly beautiful. The Müuumlweg trail leads back to Heimenkirch and the parking lot via the Berg district.