Heath hike - Forest meets Baltic Sea sand

The hiking tip combines village views, forest, and open landscape over a distance of around 9 kilometers. The hike follows the Sandmännchen path, through birch and pine forests with old, quaint tree specimens all the way to the open landscape of the sand dunes, which offer a magnificent view of blooming heathland in late summer.Length: 9 kmStart/Finish: Groß Schönebeck train stationAlternatively: from the forest car park at Döllner Straße, length 4 kmMarking/Logo: green dotRoute description: The tour starts at Groß Schönebeck train station and follows in the footsteps of Sandmännchen along Berliner Straße, then into Schlufter Straße. At the large mural of the Sandmännchen world, turn right onto Priesterweg and continue straight into the varied pine and birch forest. At forestry department post 3159/3160, turn left and after about 100 meters turn right onto a narrow path. Continue straight for about a kilometer through the slightly hilly landscape shaped by the Ice Age. On the right side stands the stone Priesterweg. In the 18th century, this path was used by the priests to provide church services from Groß Schönebeck to the neighboring village of Groß Dölln.After a few meters, the forest clears and the view opens onto a sand dune with an impressive heath landscape. An observation platform invites you to rest and contemplate. The path continues to the high seat. Those who turn right can take a detour to the stone Priesterberge, otherwise follow the path to the left and at the end of the birch grove, at the section stone 35/61, turn left back into the forest until you reach the next large sand dune. Cross it, after about 600 meters the path veers slightly to the right and leads to the small forest car park (Döllner Straße). From there, turn left and then onto Hirschweg. Hirschweg is part of the Sandmännchen path. Here stands the house of the writer Walter Krumbach, from whose pen comes the well-known Sandmännchenlied (Sandman song).On Hirschweg, return to Priesterweg and from there, with a short detour to Immanuel Church and Schorfheide Hunting Lodge, continue to the train station.Points of interest: Sandmännchen adventure trail with mural, Immanuel Church, Schorfheide Hunting Lodge, stones Priesterweg and Priesterberge, sand dunes and heath landscape, house of local writer Walter Krumbach, playground at LindenplatzPath conditions: Field and forest paths, few sections of unpaved road in the villageBook recommendation: Joachim Bandau: Memorial stones and forest sites in Schorfheide, 19 euros, available at tourist information officesMap recommendation: Pharusplan Schorfheide with the hiking trail Around Schorfheide and node system for cyclists, scale: 1:42,000, Publisher: Pharus Plan, 5th edition 2021, ISBN: 978-3-86514-142-2, Price: 5 €