NA1 For trout and heath larks

40.11 km02:39 h245 hm65 m14 mEasyTour information for download:

The circular tour starts in the center of Bienenbüttel. In the heath river Ilmenau, which we cross several times, the rare freshwater pearl mussel still lives. On the way in Grünhagen, there is a smokehouse with delicious fish specialties. From Grünhagen, the path leads first through the forest, then the landscape opens up. On the left-hand side, there is a nature reserve with alder-ash floodplain forests, oaks, and beeches. Trout live in the Eitzener Bach. Shortly before Eitzen I, there are sandy fallows and a sand pit. Here, in spring, you can hear the song of the skylark. From Eitzen I, we cycle to Beverbeck passing by the Schierbruch nature reserve on the way to Rieste. In Rieste, a giant grave with around 1000 urns containing buried Lombards was discovered in 1890. Due to exploitation and war destruction, these and other sites no longer exist. Records and other finds are preserved in a local family museum. From Rieste, the path leads over Bornsen to Oldendorf II. Here, the meadow café spoils with homemade cakes. At the outskirts of Oldendorf II, we cross the Vahrendorfer Bach, from there we continue to Natendorf. Halfway, a sign informs about the "habitat field". Leaving Natendorf, the tour leads to Varendorf and then on to Rockenmühle. This probably originated in the 10th century and was rebuilt around 1840. From here, it's just a stone's throw to the Addenstorfer Heide. The small heath area contains 45 burial mounds from the Bronze Age, which are still visible in the forest and heath. After the "history lesson" in the heath, we cycle to Jelmstorf and from there partly along the railway line and on the edge of the Ilmenau valley to Wichmannsburg. In Wichmannsburg, at the canoe station, you can have a good rest. Then we cross the heath river, read interesting facts about the protected area on the information board at the Ilmenaubrücke, and take a look at the fieldstone church, which is visible from here. From Wichmannsburg, the path leads to the Elbe-Seitenkanal. On the left-hand side, moist alder spring forests spread out. Arriving at the canal, we cross the Vierenbach and cycle a stretch along the canal. We reach the "Vierenbach" nature reserve with wet forests and wet meadows. The typical alder swamp forests can be seen directly from the road. Occasionally, we turn left to Niendorf and soon we are back in the starting point Bienenbüttel.