Cycle map Lüneburg Heath

In the triangle formed by the cities of Hamburg, Bremen, and Hanover lies the largest contiguous heathland area in Central Europe: the Lüneburg Heath. The main ridge of this gently undulating landscape of ground and end moraines, with the Wilseder Berg as its highest point, runs from the Harburger Mountains across the region to the Wierener Mountains near Bad Bodenteich. To the north and south, the Lüneburg Heath is distinctly separated from the glacial valleys of the Elbe and Aller rivers, while it gradually transitions to the Wendland and Altmark in the east and to the natural area of the Stader Geest in the west. Since 1921, the area of approximately 23,000 hectares around the Wilseder Berg has been under nature protection.

The heath is a cultural landscape that has existed for thousands of years, shaped by human management, consisting of open pastures, forests, moors, streams, and fields. However, only a small part of the original landscape has been preserved. Modern agriculture and other land uses have significantly altered the appearance of the heath.

The Lüneburg Heath Nature Park has expanded in recent years to several times its original size, reaching the city limits of Lüneburg, Soltau, and Buchholz.

The Lüneburg Heath Cycle Path is currently being revised and is expected to feature a new route totaling approximately 490 km in length. The planning status is marked on the map. Recommended are three tours along the defining rivers of the Lüneburg Heath – Ilmenau, Luhe, and Seeve – as well as along the Wümme, which has its source in the Hohen Heide. The Ilmenau Cycle Path runs along the eastern edge of the Lüneburg Heath Nature Park and passes the historic salt town of Lüneburg on its way to the Elbe. The Luhe Cycle Path and the Seeve Cycle Path follow their namesake waters through the nature park before the heath rivers.