NORDPFAD Eichholz und Franzhorn

The NORDPFAD starts at Forst Eichholz in Gnarrenburg. Mighty oaks and beeches line the edge of the forest here and a small path leads us from the forest road into the Landeswald forest, where we turn left at the first crossroads and follow the path through the beautiful mixed forest. After around 800 m, we come to a junction that leads us to the large stone tomb from the Neolithic period. After visiting the Neolithic tomb, we emerge from the forest. We carefully cross a country road, walk past the former brickworks and walk through an open and wide landscape until we reach the small settlement of Rübehorst.

At Rübehorst, we cross the country road again and follow it for 500 m on the footpath and cycle path before crossing the road once more to turn off into the settlement of Brillit. We walk through parts of the Brillit settlement and turn right onto the natural path that leads through the middle of the fields to the field road. Now the Brillit rest area and playground are not far away. After a break, we pass the K 104, walk past the war memorial and the Brillit cemetery Brillit (near starting point 2) and follow the road on the right-hand grass verge to the small settlement of Franzhorn. Highland cattle graze idyllically on the pasture surrounded by trees in the Franzhorn forest. The landscape slopes down sharply here. The pasture and forest are much lower than the houses on the Geestrücken ridge.

We leave the village behind us and walk through the Forst Franzhorn. The NORDPFAD leads us first through the southern natural forest stand, which is located within the managed national forest. It is a 200-year-old forest area in which nature alone has the say. The trail goes deeper and deeper into the forest. The silence is only interrupted by the rustling of leaves and birdsong. After a near-natural section of the trail, we come to a wide forest path. We keep to the right, pass a small field and turn left again onto a small forest path that winds its way to the edge of the forest. Coming out of the forest, we see the Brillit Moorexpress station on the left. A historic little train stops there, which runs comfortably from Bremen to Stade at weekends from the beginning of May to the end of September.



We follow the footpath and cycle path next to the K 104, cross it after about 200 m and walk 500 m along Ziegeleistraße (attention: busy road and railroad track crossing)! and reach the Brillitermoor settlement, where a playground invites you to stop. Now we walk along a car-free path along the Ziegeleikanal to the Rastplatz Ziegeleikanal, which is located in the middle of extensive pastures and meadows -  a cultural landscape that developed in the course of moor colonization. From the 18th century onwards, the former moor was cultivated and settled through drainage via ditches and canals as well as peat extraction for fuel. From the rest area, you can follow the Ziegeleikanal to Langenhausen, where it flows into the Oste-Hamme Canal, a tributary of the Hamme. This network of waterways was not only used to supply the former brickworks in Brillit with fuel peat. The Hanseatic city of Bremen was also supplied with peat, bricks and roof tiles.

The last section of the NORDPFADE runs through the wide grassland back to Gnarrenburg. Once there, we turn behind the railroad tracks into the Forst Eichholz. We walk along the edge of the forest back to our starting point. From here, it is not far to the center of Gnarrenburg, 1.1 km away, with its numerous shopping and refreshment options.   


Connecting with other NORDPFADEN
A signposted and marked 7.2 km long access path leads from starting point 1 at Forst Eichholz to the NORDPFAD Huvenhoopsmoor.


Disturbance reports
Before your hike, you should check www.nordpfade.de for information on possible detour and trail disturbances that may occur, for example due to flooding, storm damage or forestry work.

Marking sign
The marker shows a white "N" on an orange background with the name of the NORDPFAD Eichholz and Franzhorn.

Signposting
Destination signposts supplement the markings and are placed at prominent points. The signposts list places that are on the route or branch off from it, together with the distance in kilometers. The logo of the respective NORDPFADES is located underneath.

It is around 40-50 minutes from the A1 and A27 highways to the starting points, each of which has an information board and parking facilities.

• Starting point 1: 27442 Gnarrenburg, Waldstraße near house number 14
  
• Starting point 2: 27442 Brillit, at the Brillit cemetery in Franzhorner Straße, from there it goes to starting point 2, the Brillit rest area in the street "Breite Lieth"
  

There are two parking options available at the NORDPFAD. The respective starting points can also be found there.

• Parking lot 1: 27442 Gnarrenburg, Waldstraße near house number 14
  
• Parking lot 2: 27442 Brillit, at the Brillit cemetery in Franzhorner Straße, from there it goes to starting point 2, the Brillit rest area in the street "Breite Lieth"
  

Arrival by bus

• Bus stops: Gnarrenburg Mitte, 100 m from starting point 1 of the NORDPFAD and Brillit
• Bus route 640: runs Mon.-Sat. between Osterholz-Scharmbeck and Bremervörde, with connections to long-distance services to Bremen and Hamburg
• Info: www.vnn.de

Arrival with the historic narrow-gauge railway

• Stations: Gnarrenburg, 1.5 km from starting point 1 of the NORDPFAD and Brillit (directly on the NORDPFAD)
• Moorexpress" train: runs from May to October. Saturdays and public holidays between Bremen and Stade
• Info:www.moorexpress.info

Komoot
We have compiled all 24 circular hiking trails in a separate NORDPFADE collection in the well-known outdoor app. The tours can also be found in the portal under the "Northern Heath" region.

Not yet on Komoot?
There is a free voucher code for new customers.The code is ROW and can be redeemed via "Redeem voucher" at komoot.de/g or via the link https://komoot.com/de-de/g?code=ROW.

The following brochures are available free of charge at the local tourist information offices and under brochure order. They are also available for download.

• NORDPFADE tour guide
  This small brochure contains everything you need to know about the hiking region.


• NORDPFADE overview map
  The handy leaflet is a small planning aid for the environmentally conscious.
  
  
• NORDPFADE hiking pass
  The stamp-free version for collectors.

There is also a pocket book published by Editon Temmenverlag. An amusingly written "hiking guide" by Lucia Gefken, who escapes her everyday life and starts hiking.

• My NORDPFADE
  Or: "It doesn't always have to be the Way of St. James!"