Ravensberger Hill Country

The connecting element is the history of land use, illustrated by the location and nature of grassland and arable land. The focus is on special features such as the "Sieken," the regionally typical rural settlements, as well as the defining forces and meanings of streams and springs. On this route, the typical ups and downs are particularly prominent: The hilly landscape is not only very attractive scenically, but also great for calves and stamina!

The "ups and downs" of the Ravensberg hilly landscape with its very special landscape form of stream valleys and "Sieke" form the common thread of this hiking trail. After the Werburg with the forest pool in Spenge, you reach the "Drubbel" in Baringdorf, a typical small cluster of farms. The route continues to the Rötekuhlen, historical witnesses of flax production, which meant an important additional income for many small farming families in their cottages and day laborer houses. The path crosses and accompanies streams and springs, high-lying arable land, and narrow hollow paths - essential, landscape-shaping elements that are typical of our region. The almost-airport Nagelsholz, a famous example of successful, broadly based protest from the early days of the environmental movement, is just as much a "point of interest" as the centuries-old Sattelmeier farms. By order from the very top, these farmers always had to provide a strong man with a horse (saddled) ready for military service. The Enger Bruch is much more peaceful, where in winter and spring birdwatchers from afar come to admire rare and interesting bird species that make a stop on their long journey on the wet meadows and water surfaces. The residence of a famous citizen of Enger, the university lecturer and author of popular books about nature Rolf Dirksen, is always worth a stop on the edge of the tour. The particularly idyllic Siele is also on the way - as well as the Kleinbahnmuseum in Enger and one of the few windmills far and wide.

For more information about the route and waypoints, visit the cycling leisure homepage of the Herford district at www.fahr-im-kreis.de. There you will also find a brochure available for download.