- 2:30 h
- 62.00 km
- 170 m
- 170 m
- 16 m
- 39 m
- 23 m
- Start: Zeven bus station, 27404 Zeven
- Destination: Zeven bus station, 27404 Zeven
The 62 km circular tour leads along well-maintained paths through a gently undulating Geest landscape, with its typical North German farming villages and the central town of Zeven, which offers many places to stop for refreshments. This area is particularly fertile and criss-crossed by fields, pastures and meadows, through which the rivers Bade, Oste and Twiste and countless streams meander gently. A varied loop with many charming destinations, such as the former "gold village" of Godenstedt, the creative Kliemannsland in Rüspel, the Kuhmühlen recreation area and the central town of Zeven.
Good to know
Pavements
Asphalt
Best to visit
suitable
Depends on weather
Directions
Overview of the route:
Zeven - 3 km - Oldendorf - 4 km - Badenstedt - 4 km - Ostereistedt - 6 km - Godenstedt - 3 km - Seedorf - 4 km - Twistenbostel - 3 km - Sassenholz - 4 km - Bohnste - 3 km - Steddorf - 5 km - Groß Ippensen - 4 km - Klein Meckelsen - 2 km - Kuhmühlen - 5 km - Rüspel - 7 km - Frankenbostel - 6 km - Zeven
Detailed route:
From Zeven, we first cycle in a south-westerly direction and after a few kilometers we pass Oldendorf, the first farming village on the circular tour, before continuing to Badenstedt, which is known to many for its school hostel that is famous beyond the district boundaries.
The route then takes us to Ostereistedt, where Eckes Hus is located on Steinkampsweg. This half-timbered house, built in 1564 and now a listed building, is the oldest farmhouse still standing in the entire district of Rotenburg (Wümme). Here you can literally feel the village life of past centuries. After a further 6 km, we reach the former "golden village" of Godenstedt, which won the national "Our village should be more beautiful" award in 1970 and received a gold medal. The village is characterized by its many imposing oak trees, which frame the large farms in the village, and the Oste, a natural tributary of the Elbe, which meanders through the village.
On a cycle path completed in 2024 and past the extensive barracks site of the German Armed Forces, the Ostschleifchen leads us to Seedorf. A few kilometers later, we cross the next river, the Twiste, in Twistenbostel. On well-developed side roads and the K134, which is not heavily frequented, we cycle via Sassenholz and Bohnste to Steddorf, which can be recognized from afar by its wind turbines. Then it becomes "small and big" in two senses: first we ride on and alongside the K134 through the villages of Klein and Groß Ippensen and then through Klein and towards Groß Meckelsen. We cross the small Kuhbach stream twice and reach the Kuhmühlen recreation area. The preserved manor buildings of the former watermill are located opposite the mill pond in the middle of a beautiful mixed forest. It is worth taking a break here in the beer garden or in the restaurant of the hotel, the former miller's house.
We pass the Oste a second time, cycle along meadows and fields through the villages of Volkensen and Nindorf and reach Rüspel to the south, which is known throughout Germany for its "Kliemannsland". The 3.5-hectare adventure farm with its café is a huge adventure playground for young and old. The farm has been renovated and imaginatively redesigned by a bunch of "creatives".
The route continues on top asphalt via Freyersen to Frankenbostel, where we continue alongside or on the K132 and take a direct route to our starting point of Zeven. Here, cozy cafés and restaurants invite you to stop for refreshments at the end of the cycle tour.
Zeven - 3 km - Oldendorf - 4 km - Badenstedt - 4 km - Ostereistedt - 6 km - Godenstedt - 3 km - Seedorf - 4 km - Twistenbostel - 3 km - Sassenholz - 4 km - Bohnste - 3 km - Steddorf - 5 km - Groß Ippensen - 4 km - Klein Meckelsen - 2 km - Kuhmühlen - 5 km - Rüspel - 7 km - Frankenbostel - 6 km - Zeven
Detailed route:
From Zeven, we first cycle in a south-westerly direction and after a few kilometers we pass Oldendorf, the first farming village on the circular tour, before continuing to Badenstedt, which is known to many for its school hostel that is famous beyond the district boundaries.
The route then takes us to Ostereistedt, where Eckes Hus is located on Steinkampsweg. This half-timbered house, built in 1564 and now a listed building, is the oldest farmhouse still standing in the entire district of Rotenburg (Wümme). Here you can literally feel the village life of past centuries. After a further 6 km, we reach the former "golden village" of Godenstedt, which won the national "Our village should be more beautiful" award in 1970 and received a gold medal. The village is characterized by its many imposing oak trees, which frame the large farms in the village, and the Oste, a natural tributary of the Elbe, which meanders through the village.
On a cycle path completed in 2024 and past the extensive barracks site of the German Armed Forces, the Ostschleifchen leads us to Seedorf. A few kilometers later, we cross the next river, the Twiste, in Twistenbostel. On well-developed side roads and the K134, which is not heavily frequented, we cycle via Sassenholz and Bohnste to Steddorf, which can be recognized from afar by its wind turbines. Then it becomes "small and big" in two senses: first we ride on and alongside the K134 through the villages of Klein and Groß Ippensen and then through Klein and towards Groß Meckelsen. We cross the small Kuhbach stream twice and reach the Kuhmühlen recreation area. The preserved manor buildings of the former watermill are located opposite the mill pond in the middle of a beautiful mixed forest. It is worth taking a break here in the beer garden or in the restaurant of the hotel, the former miller's house.
We pass the Oste a second time, cycle along meadows and fields through the villages of Volkensen and Nindorf and reach Rüspel to the south, which is known throughout Germany for its "Kliemannsland". The 3.5-hectare adventure farm with its café is a huge adventure playground for young and old. The farm has been renovated and imaginatively redesigned by a bunch of "creatives".
The route continues on top asphalt via Freyersen to Frankenbostel, where we continue alongside or on the K132 and take a direct route to our starting point of Zeven. Here, cozy cafés and restaurants invite you to stop for refreshments at the end of the cycle tour.
Directions & Parking facilities
The Ostschleifchen is the only road bike tour in the district of Rotenburg (Wümme) that is not directly accessible by train. The nearest train stations are around 25 km from Zeven and are located in Bremervörde, Rotenburg (Wümme) and Tostedt. Timetable and information: www.bahn.de
It is possible to travel by bus from Bremen, Stade, Tostedt, Rotenburg (Wümme) and Bremervörde, but EVB buses only take one or two bicycles on board to a limited extent, if it fits. Information and tickets: evb-elbe-weser.de
Those arriving by car will find public parking spaces at the Stadtpark and at the Mittelteich in 27404 Zeven.
It is possible to travel by bus from Bremen, Stade, Tostedt, Rotenburg (Wümme) and Bremervörde, but EVB buses only take one or two bicycles on board to a limited extent, if it fits. Information and tickets: evb-elbe-weser.de
Those arriving by car will find public parking spaces at the Stadtpark and at the Mittelteich in 27404 Zeven.
Those arriving by car will find public parking spaces at the town park and at the Mittelteich in 27404 Zeven.
The Ostschleifchen is the only road bike tour in the district of Rotenburg (Wümme) that is not directly accessible by train. The nearest train stations are around 25 km from Zeven and are located in Bremervörde, Rotenburg (Wümme) and Tostedt. Timetable and information: www.bahn.de
A journey by bus is possible from Bremen, Stade, Tostedt, Rotenburg (Wümme) and Bremervörde, but the regular buses do not take bicycles. Information and tickets: evb-elbe-weser.de
A journey by bus is possible from Bremen, Stade, Tostedt, Rotenburg (Wümme) and Bremervörde, but the regular buses do not take bicycles. Information and tickets: evb-elbe-weser.de
Additional information
Information and GPX tracks for all road bike tours in the district of Rotenburg (Wümme) can be found at app.nordwaerts.de, nordwaerts.de, komoot.com and strava.com or in the handy folding brochure.
Literature
All information about the road bike tours in the district of Rotenburg (Wümme) is presented in a handy leaflet. This can be ordered on the website of the Rotenburg (Wümme) district tourism association and is available en route from the tourist information office in Zeven.
Contact person
Touristikverband Landkreis Rotenburg (Wümme) e.V. -
Ihr Ansprechpartner für die Region
Harburger Straße 59
27356 Rotenburg (Wümme)
License (master data)
Phillip Holtermann
Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author
Shopping and refreshment facilities are mainly located in the town of Zeven and occasionally also in Ostereistedt, Kuhmühlen and Rüspel (please check opening times before the road bike tour).
Radserviceläden can be found in Zeven (please check opening times online in advance)
Safety guidelines
Please note:
The road traffic regulations (StVO) must always be observed.
Rural traffic always has priority.
Some sections may contain (small) potholes or cracks.
Some roads or cycle paths are (very) uneven in places and require attentive riding.
Special notes for the Ostschleifchen:
Some roadside cycle paths in the second half of the tour are not in good to very good condition, includingincluding from Steddorf along the K134 to Groß Ippensen, Klein Ippensen to Klein Meckelsen, shortly before Volkensen to Nindorf and directly before Zeven next to the L142.
Nearby
