Nienwohld: Cycling Route, Moor and Canal History

Tour 5, “Moorland Tour,” gives a trip to Nienwohld a clear focus on cycling. The 37-kilometre route starts at the hiking car park in Nienwohld and passes moorland landscapes and traces of the past. For planning, both the precise route and how to get to the starting point matter.

Route and Planning

From the hiking car park, the route follows Dorfstraße towards the Alte Alster and then passes Nienwohlder Moor. On the way back, it passes through the moor again. Near the point where the route returns to Nienwohld, the cycle path crosses the remains of the former Alster-Trave Canal. This places the moor and traces of the canal on different sections of the same tour. The total distance of 37 kilometres provides a specific reference for planning your day. Surfaces and signage may change, so check the current route before setting out.

Getting There by Train

Tour 5 cannot be reached directly by train. Bargteheide station is around 10 kilometres away; Tours 6 and 12 provide connections to the route. The station and the starting point at the hiking car park in Nienwohld are therefore two separate stops to factor into your plans. If you travel by train, check the latest train connections and links via the two tours in advance, as both can change. Plan for the station and the tour starting point separately when arranging your journey.

Historical Traces on the Return Route

Near the return to Nienwohld, the cycle path crosses the remains of the former Alster-Trave Canal and the Nienwohld locks. The waterway project between Lübeck and Hamburg was unsuccessful; it was pursued between 1529 and 1549. The locks and canal remains provide a tangible link between the return route and this historic project. The historical infrastructure may be more or less visible along the route.

More to Explore in the Wider Stormarn Destination

The wider Stormarn destination has more than 20 circular cycling tours as well as BahnRadWege routes along the tracks of three former railway lines. Another cycling idea in the Stormarn area is the “Mail Train Robbery on the State Railway Line” crime trail: on BahnRadWeg B, it combines a cycling tour with a puzzle experience and a fictional investigation into a historic mail train robbery. It offers a different way to connect cycling with a theme than the landscapes and canal traces of Tour 5.

You can also explore cultural and historical themes in the wider Stormarn destination. Ahrensburg Castle was completed in 1585 and has served continuously as a museum since 1955. Its completion and later use as a museum mark different chapters in its history. At Jersbek Estate, the Baroque garden dates from the 18th century and is open to visitors; the estate itself dates from the 16th century and has been in continuous use ever since.

Discover more destinations: Hamberge, Reinbek, Bargteheide, Lasbek, Hoisdorf, Tangstedt, Rausdorf, Travenbrück

View the full travel guide: Stormarn.