Schönhorst: Hills, Forest and Circular Walk

Schönhorst is very hilly. Forests, open grassland and numerous waterways shape the landscape. The municipality is considered a local recreation area for Kiel. A circular walk leads into Schönhorster Gehege and offers views of Lake Bothkamp, the church in Kirchbarkau and Bothkamp Manor. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Schönhorst, this landscape and the walking route can provide practical guidance when planning your trip.

Landscape from North to South

In the north are extensive wooded areas with small ponds, wet woodlands and ecologically valuable areas of natural succession. The hedgerow network is also relatively well developed. Intensive grassland farming characterizes southern Schönhorst; numerous small bodies of water are scattered across the grassland. The transition from the wooded areas in the north to the open, agriculturally shaped south gives the municipality a clear north-south contrast. If experiencing different landscapes is important to you during your stay, you can use these two distinct areas to shape your expectations.

Waterways and Views

The Strom flows from north to south through the entire municipality; the Schönhorster Graben flows into it. Other ditches drain southward toward Lake Bothkamp and the Eider. In the southeast, the view opens out toward Lake Bothkamp. For orientation, the direction of the water flow and the view are two different aspects of the landscape: the Strom crosses the municipality, while the view points southeast toward the lake.

Walking and Viewpoints

A circular walk leads into Schönhorster Gehege and crosses a stream that flows toward Lake Bothkamp. The route’s viewpoints include Lake Bothkamp, the church in Kirchbarkau and Bothkamp Manor. Allow approximately five hours for this tour; the duration is an estimate. It fits into your day’s plans if you intend to set aside several hours for a walk. Check trail conditions and access locally before setting out. The local history of walking trails also has a specific date: new walking trails were created during reforestation in 1992.

Getting to the Circular Walk

You can reach the circular walk by car via the A 21 or B 404 and the Kirchbarkau exit. By bus, you can plan to take route 410 from Kiel Central Station/ZOB to Kirchbarkau, Am Alten Bahnhof; check the timetable before travelling. The two travel options offer different reference points for planning: the exit and road connection on the one hand, and the route and bus stop on the other. This lets you coordinate your journey to the walk with your travel plans before choosing a hotel. The L 307 runs west to east through Schönhorst and connects the L 318 with the B 404; it is another reference point for road connections through the municipality.

A Historical Look at Schönhorst

A specific event from the 14th century also gives Schönhorst a tangible place in history: in 1334, Sifried and Eler of Bissee sold half of the village of Schönhorst to Heinrich Godethit. This event adds a dated perspective on the village’s medieval ownership history to the picture of its landscape and walking routes.

Discover more destinations: Noer, Dörphof, Damp, Melsdorf, Schierensee, Rumohr, Schinkel, Warder.

For the regional travel overview: Rendsburg-Eckernförde.