Blind Lake Tour

Starting point of the approximately 10 km long route is the restaurant Zum Waldbad at the northern outskirts of Steimbke at the intersection of Klostergarten / Lichtenhorster Strasse. There is a bus stop for line 40. Parking is available on Klostergarten street, opposite on Lichtenhorster Strasse, or on Schäfersdrift street.The description follows the red arrow of the signage. It consists of two loops connected by a connecting stretch.Opposite Klostergarten street, the path starts through the mixed forest. At the intersection, turn left and walk between coniferous and deciduous forest. Wild edible blueberries or bilberries grow along the path. The fallen needles on the path muffle the sounds, allowing you to often see local bird species, and even deer or hares.At the pyramid-shaped grate protecting the forest ants, turn right and begin a slight uphill climb. In the middle of the forest, there is a sand pit with yellow sand on the right. The route then leads through meadows and fields in the nature reserve Steimbker Kuhlen, passing grazing cows. Turn right and walk between the meadow and the edge of the forest. Then turn left and at the next fork, keep to the right. Walk along the edge of the pastures. On the left, the moor begins and a drainage ditch accompanies the path. In the distance, wind turbines stand, while looking back, you see Steimbke.Follow the sign and turn left. The drainage ditches are now regularly spaced in the forest. On the left, the forest transitions into a heathland and birches line the path on both sides. Opposite the clearing on the left side, large boulders mark the entrance to the Blind Lake, hidden in the middle of the forest and moor, inviting for a picnic or sunbathing. Here, you can enjoy the peace by the lake, but only if the mosquitoes and horse flies (horseflies) are not there first in the summer.The name Blind Lake comes from the fact that it is a large peat pit with very turbid water. Fish have no chance of survival in this lake. Since you can only look about 30 cm deep into the water, it is called the Blind Lake. Back on the path, continue through the birch avenue. At the end of the forest, the path bends to the right and in Eckelshof, a small district of Steimbke, the famous Nienburg Asparagus is grown, as in many places in the district. Behind lies the moor where peat is extracted.Continue to the right through the forest and along the edge of the forest. Here, the ground is black due to the peat. Straight ahead, along the drainage ditches on both sides of the path, you can see large fields, forest, and heath on the right. At the end of this long, straight path, you reach a junction where you turn right. Ahead of you, the vast expanse of fields and meadows, with Steimbke on the horizon. Here, the wind usually blows against you.Continue along the edge of the forest towards Steimbke, crossing the Wiehbuschwiesen, where you can watch the cows grazing and being milked, then turn left and walk between the meadows to the next intersection, where you turn right. The buildings on the left belong to the Steimbke sewage treatment plant. Look up, as you might spot the stork in its specially built nest. It feels at home in the marshlands, like many other marshland birds, some of which are protected. Please note in the nature reserves that you must not leave the existing paths to protect the animal and plant life! Along the new housing area Lichtenhorster Strasse, you reach the county road leading right to Lichtenhorst. 300 m in this direction is the Waldbad, where your hike began.For those who are still interested, you can also continue straight ahead and take a detour (about 1.5 km) through the old core of Steimbke. Along the fruit trees on Wiesenstrasse, turn left into Rathausgasse. In the garden on the right, chickens, geese, and ducks peck around. Passing the old farms, on the left, behind the wedding garden, a small rose garden, stands the St. Dionysios Church on a small hill. The small gatehouse is dedicated to the fallen of the wars. Above the church door, there is a Latin inscription. Reading the capitalized letters as Roman numerals reveals the year the church was built.Continuing past the rectory, sextons house, town hall, and community center, turn right along the main street. Across is the Bistro Culinario. In summer, you can sit outside here. There is also a bus stop. Turn right after the small, old-fashioned bicycle shop into Wiesenstrasse, then left at the thick oaks and follow the path, past the kindergarten and primary school, to the gym. Behind the hedge in the parking lot stands an old oil pump, reminding that oil was once extracted in Steimbke. Continue to the right towards the Steimbke high school, where you turn sharply right into Klostergarten street. On the left are the gardens of the former factory settlement of Brigitta Elwerath. On the right is the shooting club building, on the left are the tennis courts, sports facilities, the restaurant with a bowling alley, and at the end of the street is the NaturWaldBad.After about 3 hours of hiking, you have the choice between a refreshing dip in the water and a visit to the restaurant for coffee, cake, homemade ice cream, or pizza as a conclusion.The tour can also be found on Komoot.Safety information:Throughout the tour, it is advised that the paths are taken at your own risk. There is no guarantee of the usability of the paths. In cities/towns, increased attention is generally required. Be prepared for hazardous areas on the tour, such as bollards, barriers, and unsecured crossings.