On the Traces of the Moor

Searching for Traces in the Peat Moor (35 km)

One of the most impressive and significant wetland areas in Northwestern Germany is the Gildehauser Venn nature reserve, located south of Gildehaus. The total area of the site is 650 hectares. The rich flora and fauna with birch forests, peat basins, and dunes can be admired from two observation towers.
The waters of Gildehauser Venn are botanically the most diverse in Lower Saxony and provide habitat for rare plant species such as marsh St. John's wort, pale yellow dry flowers, ribwort plantain, dwarf flax, or floating water plantain. If you look closely, you might even see one of the rare carnivorous plants, the sundew. In addition to various landscapes such as wet heathlands, remnants of peat moors, and swamp forests, the Gildehauser Venn is also home to a variety of rare bird species, such as the long-eared owl or the golden oriole. The curlew, the emperor dragonfly, the moor frog, and the common European adder also live here. Those who explore the northern loop of this route will be rewarded with a beautiful view of the Gildehauser Mühlenberg. Here stands the Ostmühle, a Dutch tower windmill built from Bentheimer sandstone in 1749/1750.
 
Please note: The hiking route is divided into a northern and a southern route due to its length and can thus be shortened. The northern route is marked with yellow arrows, while the southern route is marked with red arrows.