Hedgerow Route

34.89 km long
Round trip
Difficulty: easy
Condition: very easy
Bicycle Ride
  • 2:15 h
  • 34.89 km
  • 50 m
  • 50 m
  • 19 m
  • Start: Rastede, Wiefelstede
  • Destination: Rastede, Wiefelstede
The route takes you through the region's special landscape feature: hedgerows are part of the cultural landscape, shaped by cultivation over the centuries.

The Ammerland hedgerows are valuable components of the cultural landscape. They characterize the Ammerland park landscape and run through the intensively used land like lifelines. Originally, hedgerows were created as living fences and for property demarcation. They provide a habitat for many wild animal and plant species. You can see for yourself on this approximately 34-kilometer-long route.

 

Highlights: 

  • The eastern moors: Hankhauser, Barghorner, Loyer, and Ipwegermoor – the entire eastern section of the route is shaped by beautiful moor landscapes. The paths are paved and lead along splendid shady avenues to Wahnbek.
  • Landscape window hedgerows (Wemkendorf): The observation tower “Tower of a Poet” stands amidst hedgerows and offers a view of the characteristic landscape of Wiefelstede. The hedgerows distinctly shape the Ammerland park landscape as former boundary markers.
  • Rastede Castle was for a long time the residence of the counts and grand dukes of the House of Oldenburg and is still privately owned today. The building is exemplary of Oldenburg classicism, brought here by Duke Peter Friedrich Ludwig, and is also the most important secular building in Ammerland.
  • The history of the Rastede castle park can be traced back to the time of the medieval monastery forest. After a turbulent history, the period of Rastede as a summer residence began in 1777 with the later Duke Peter Friedrich Ludwig.
  • Landscape window Geestrand: From the tower, you look toward the Wesermarsch. Here, the impressive height difference of up to 20 meters between the Ammerland Geest and the Weser marshland can be experienced.

Good to know

Best to visit

suitable
Depends on weather

Directions

The entire "Hedgerow Route" is marked with a green hedgerow symbol. It is signposted in both directions, so it can be ridden in both directions and combined with other routes. Additionally, intermediate signs of the bicycle traffic system indicate directions along the way. The exact route can be found on the GPX track or you can easily navigate with the app "Grenzenlos aktiv."

Directions & Parking facilities

A28 / A29/ A31

Your arrival by car is along the A1 and A29 motorways to Oldenburg, and from Oldenburg continue along the A28 towards Emden/Leer to Westerstede or your desired destination in Ammerland.

Public and free parking spaces are available at many starting and end points.

You can conveniently arrive by train at the following stations in Ammerland and the region.

Stations: Leer, Augustfehn, Westerstede-Ocholt, Bad Zwischenahn, Oldenburg, Rastede

You can easily reach the other towns and districts by bus.

License (master data)

Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author

Castle café in Rastede, café with outdoor seating in the immediate vicinity of the castle park.

Map

You can order the overview map and the cycling map set with all 15 themed routes here for 7.90 € plus shipping. The individual maps have a scale of 1 : 30,000.    

Nearby

Contact

Hedgerow Route
Wiefelstede