Cycling between the coasts

Right in the middle in Schleswig-Holstein, original villages slumber between meadows, forests and moors. The rivers Eider, Treene and Sorge wind their way through the Green Inland. Along the Schlei maritime towns are set in rolling hills. At the end of the estuary is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Vikings Haithabu and Danewerk. At the region’s heart lies the City of Neumünster with its rich art and cultural offerings, but also retreats such as the large Einfeld Lake. Further south, the route passes through the Holsteiner Auenland towards Bad Segeberg with its unique limestone cave and extensive forest. Here and in Mittelholstein there are old manor houses with estates to discover. Side by side with the “Hochseepötten”, the long-distance cycle route leads along the Kiel Canal from Kiel to Brunsbüttel. In the “Wilstermarsch” between the Elbe and Stör rivers is the lowest walkable place in Germany, and if you continue cycling towards Hamburg, you will cross the special cultural landscape of the “Pinneberger Baumschulland” with its numerous farm cafés and regional delicacies. The inland also offers many mini cycling regions with varied daily routes.

In the middle of Mittelholstein, cycling enthusiasts can look forward to a special canal tour. The starting point is the canal town of Rendsburg: Cross the Kiel Canal with Germany’s unique floating ferry (from summer 2021) under the elevated railway bridge and experience the world’s busiest artificial shipping lane from the water. Side by side with freighters and container ships, Brauer’s Aalkate one of the last canal fishermen. Next stop is Himbeerhof Steinwehr, before the route starts in Sehestedt with the ferry to the north side of the canal. After this free mini-cruise, the tour always leads along the canal. Back in Rendsburg, you can experience the historic old town with street cafés, theatre and culture. Thanks to the “blue line”, which guides you from sight to sight along 3.2 kilometres, you won’t miss a thing.

Cycling through nature in all its splendour, that’s possible with the Nature Park Trail 160 kilometres of cycling pleasure. The tour connects four nature parks and is also a hiking trail. The starting point is in the Schlei Nature Park with its steep edges and typical landscapes. The tour continues to the Naturpark Hüttener Berge Here, the ice age shaped the landscape and conditioned a lively relief with small stones in the meadows and fields, which are home to a diverse flora and fauna. Along the Kiel Canal, the route takes a canal ferry to the Westensee Nature Park. It is not only the fields and forests that invite you to take a break, but also the bathing area, the cakes and tarts in the cafés and the animals in the Arche Warder Zoo. At Aukrug Nature Park the forests are best appreciated from a view from the “Boxberg”, followed by a warm waffle in the  Ole Hus zu genießen.