Heathland tour

The Heidjer Round

Total length: 32 km
Route: Amelinghausen - Ehlbeck - Rehrhof - Schwindebeck - Soderstorf - Oldendorf/Luhe - Amelinghausen

Highlights: along all major heathland areas of the region or short detours possible, Schwindequelle, Oldendorfer Totentsatt, Archaeological Museum, Heidschnuckenstall, Lopausee

Route
Tour start at the Tourist Information Amelinghausen, on the Hessenweg to Ehlbeck, over the traditional estate Rehrhof, detour possible to the Rehrhofer Heide - juniper paradise, through the forest to Schwindebeck, detour possible to the Schwindebecker Heide, on the cycle path to Soderstorf, on Wohlenbütteler Straße to Oldendorf/Luhe, Nekropole Soderstorf, Wohlenbüttel: bridge over the Luhe with a view of the historic water mill - descent to Amelinghausen possible, continue to Oldendorf/Luhe to the Archaeological Museum, historical burial ground and heathland Oldendorfer Totenstatt, Kronsbergheide with Heidschnuckenstall and coronation place of the Heath Queen, recreational destination Lopausee, tour end in Amelinghausen.

It starts at the Tourist Information Amelinghausen, where you can get all the information and tips for the upcoming bike tour. Via the Hessenweg, you leave Amelinghausen and turn right towards Ehlbeck, which you reach after about 6 km through the landscape dominated by arable land. The collection of farmsteads and residential buildings turns into the small village "Rehrhof" after a right turn, named after the traditional manor. The 20 listed half-timbered houses of the estate have already served as a TV backdrop many times, e.g. for a commercial of the "Rügenwalder Mühle".

After crossing the federal road, you have the option to take a detour to the Rehrhofer Heide (1 km away). It is the largest heathland in the Amelinghausen region. Through the large grove of heather-characteristic shrubs, the Rehrhofer Heide is also known as the "juniper paradise". Back at Rehrhof, you go through the forest to Schwindebeck. In the immediate vicinity of the village, the elongated Schwindebecker Heide is worth seeing, from where a magnificent panoramic view of the landscape can be enjoyed from the Feldherrenhügel. However, the path through the heath is sandy and hilly, therefore not suitable for every bike and rider. The second most water-rich spring in Lower Saxony, the Schwindequelle, is again easily accessible through the village. Here, the emergence of the spring water and various colored algae deposits can be observed as an impressive natural spectacle.

The cycle path continues to Soderstorf. Keep right towards Oldendorf/Luhe. At the edge of Soderstorf is the Nekropole Soderstorf with a stone grave from the Stone Age, embedded in a small heathland. At the intersection to Wohlenbüttel, there is the option to already turn off to Amelinghausen. The view from the Luhe bridge to the small river with the historic water mill in the background is worth seeing. Continue past the Stillen Heide to Oldendorf/Luhe. At the Archaeological Museum, you will learn about the nearby Oldendorfer Totenstatt: interesting facts about settlement history and way of life in the Stone Age, burial rites, construction of burial sites, and excavation finds. With this knowledge, the visit to the stone graves, burial mounds, and dolmens of the heathland Oldendorfer Totenstatt is particularly exciting.

The forest path leads to the Kronsbergheide. As befits the name of the heathland, the coronation of the Heath Queen takes place on the nearby festival grounds. Then the Lopausee lies before you, where the bike tour ends in the idyllic setting by the lake.

Note: This route is not signposted.