Marked circular trail (approx. 10 km): Through moor and heath north of Steimbke.
The starting point of the approx. 10 km long route is the restaurant "Zum Waldbad" on the northern outskirts of Steimbke at the Klostergarten / Lichtenhorster Strasse junction. There is a bus stop there for route 40. Parking is available in Klostergarten, opposite on Lichtenhorster Strasse or in Schäfersdrift.
The description follows the red arrow on the signposting. There are two loops, which are connected by a connecting route.
The path through the mixed forest begins opposite the Klostergarten road. Turn left at the crossroads and walk between coniferous and deciduous forest. Wild, edible blueberries and bilberries grow along the edge of the path. The fallen needles on the path muffle the sounds and so you can often see native bird species and even deer or hares.
At the pyramid-shaped fence under which the wood ants are protected, turn right and walk slightly uphill. In the middle of the forest on the right is a sandpit with yellow sand. At the end of this path, the route continues through meadows and fields in the "Steimbker Kuhlen" nature reserve, past grazing cows. Turn right and walk between the meadow and the edge of the forest. Then turn left and keep right at the next fork. Walk along the edge of the meadows. The moor begins on your left and a drainage ditch runs along the edge of the path. There are wind turbines in the distance and you can see Steimbke in the distance.
Follow the sign and turn left. The drainage ditches are now at regular intervals in the forest. On the left, the forest changes to heathland and birch trees line both sides of the path. Opposite the clearing on the left are large boulders on the right-hand side of the path. They mark the entrance to the Blind Lake, which is hidden in the middle of the forest and moor and invites you to have a picnic and sunbathe. Here you can enjoy the tranquillity of the lake, but only if the mosquitoes and blind flies (horseflies) are not there beforehand in summer.
The name "Blind Lake" comes from the fact that it consists of a large peat hollow in which the water is very cloudy. Fish have no chance of survival in this lake. As you can only see about 30 cm deep into the water, it is called the "Blind Lake". Back on the path, you continue through the birch avenue. At the end of the forest, the path bends to the right and there, in Eckelshof, a small district of Steimbke, the famous "Nienburg asparagus" is grown, as in many places in the district. Behind it lies the moor, where peat is mined.
Continue right through the forest and along the edge of the wood. The ground here is black due to the peat. Straight ahead, along the drainage ditches on both sides of the path, you will see large fields, forest and heath again on the right. At the end of this long, straight path, you come to a crossroads where you turn right. In front of you is the endless expanse of fields and pastures, with Steimbke on the horizon.
You now walk back along the edge of the forest in the direction of Steimbke, cross the "Wiehbuschwiesen" meadows, watch the cows grazing and being milked in the pastures, then turn left and walk between the pastures to the next but one crossroads, where you turn right. The buildings on the left belong to the Steimbke sewage treatment plant. Look up, as you may be able to see the stork in the nest built especially for it. It feels at home in the wet meadows, as do many other meadow birds, some of which are protected. Please note that you are not allowed to leave the existing paths in the nature reserves to protect the flora and fauna! Walk along the "Lichtenhorster Strasse" development area to the district road, which leads to Lichtenhorst on the right. 300 m in this direction is the Waldbad, where you started your hike.
If you feel like it, you can also go straight ahead and take a detour (approx. 1.5 km) through the old center of Steimbke. Along the fruit trees on Wiesenstrasse, turn left into Rathausgasse. Chickens, geese and ducks peck in the garden on the right. After the old courtyards, the church of St. Dionysius rises on a small hill on the left, behind the wedding garden, a small rose garden. The small gatehouse is dedicated to the fallen of the wars. Above the church door is a Latin motto. If you read the capital letters like a Roman numeral, it reveals the year the church was built.
Continue past the rectory, sexton's house, town hall and parish hall and turn right along the main street. Opposite is the Bistro Culinario. You can sit outside here in summer. There is also a bus stop here. Turn right after the small, old-fashioned bicycle store into Wiesenstraße, then left at the thick oak trees and follow the path past the kindergarten and the elementary school to the gymnasium. Behind the hedge at the parking lot is an old oil pump, a reminder that oil was once extracted in Steimbke. Continue to the right towards Steimbke secondary school, where you turn sharp right into Klostergarten street. On the left are the gardens of the former "Brigitta Elwerath" works estate. On the right is the Schützenhaus, on the left the tennis courts, the sports facilities, the restaurant with bowling alley and at the end of the road the NaturWaldBad.
After approx. 3 hours of walking, you can choose between a refreshing dip in the water or a visit to the restaurant with coffee, cake, homemade ice cream or pizza.
The tour can also be found at Komoot.
Safety instructions:
- Throughout the entire tour, please note that the paths are used at your own risk
- No guarantee is given for the usability of the paths
- In the cities/towns, increased attention is generally required
- Danger points must be expected on the tour, e.g. bollards, circulation barriers
- .e.g. bollards, barriers and unsecured crossings
Weather
