The 106 km long circular tour runs away from major traffic routes, through the quiet, western part of the district of Rotenburg (Wümme) and through the lively small town of Rotenburg (Wümme). The interplay between meadows, fields and forests and the small rivers Wieste, Wörpe and Wümme make up the charm of this landscape. The route also passes through the charming town of Sottrum and the small villages of Stapel, Horstedt, Nartum and Waffensen in the Wiesteniederung herb region. A route not just for fans of the "Landpartie"!
Good to know
Pavements
Asphalt
Best to visit
suitable
Depends on weather
Directions
Overview of the route:
Sottrum - 8 km - Taaken - 5 km - Horstedt - 3 km - Nartum - 9 km - Kirchtimke - 4 km - Hepstedt - 12 km - Ostereistedt - 4 km - Badenstedt - 9 km - Wehldorf - 5 km - Elsdorf - 3 km - Hatzte - 9 km - Sothel - 5 km - Westeresch - 11 km - Rotenburg (Wümme) - 7 km - Unterstedt - 5 km - Waffensen - 6 km - Sottrum
Detailed route:
The 106 km long circular tour starts at Sottrum station, which is on the Hamburg-Bremen railroad line and therefore offers a good way to get there. First, we cycle 13 km in the direction of Horstedt. We cycle through residential areas and the town center, cross the Wiestetal valley and cross the A1 freeway until we reach the herb villages of Stapel and Horstedt. In Stapel there is a great rest area right next to Lower Saxony's largest lavender field.
On quiet country roads, surrounded by fertile fields and gentle meadows, we follow the route via Steinfeld through the Schierk forest area to Kirchtimke, which we reach after 12 km, where the historic fieldstone church of St. Lambertus from the 12th century is clearly visible in the village center.
Away from major roads, through open fields and small forests such as the Ummel, we finally reach Ostereistedt, another stage destination 16 km away and home of the Easter bunny "Hanni Hase". Every year at Easter, he throws a big party and, together with his helpers from the Easter Bunny Post Office, answers letters from all over the world.
From Ostereistedt, the next stage takes us south again through a slightly hilly Geest landscape formed by the last ice age and through the forest area "Großes Holz". From "village to village" we cycle via Oldendorf, Brüttendorf, Wehldorf and after 19 km we reach the village of Elsdorf, which offers opportunities for a short break.
We cycle again over the A 1 highway, then through a cultivated moorland landscape and on small side roads to Sothel and Westeresch, two quiet villages with traditional farms. 18 km later, we cross the Wümme in the middle of Rotenburg (Wümme). With its numerous restaurants and ice cream parlors, the small district town is an ideal place for a rest and refreshment in the midst of the small town atmosphere. The last 18 km section of the western loop follows gently winding roads that run alongside the Wümme, over the Wiedau and Rodau rivers, through the Ahewald forest and the "golden village" of Waffensen. The pretty village won the national "Our village has a future" competition in 1987 and 2010. From there it goes via Hassendorf back to Sottrum station.
Sottrum - 8 km - Taaken - 5 km - Horstedt - 3 km - Nartum - 9 km - Kirchtimke - 4 km - Hepstedt - 12 km - Ostereistedt - 4 km - Badenstedt - 9 km - Wehldorf - 5 km - Elsdorf - 3 km - Hatzte - 9 km - Sothel - 5 km - Westeresch - 11 km - Rotenburg (Wümme) - 7 km - Unterstedt - 5 km - Waffensen - 6 km - Sottrum
Detailed route:
The 106 km long circular tour starts at Sottrum station, which is on the Hamburg-Bremen railroad line and therefore offers a good way to get there. First, we cycle 13 km in the direction of Horstedt. We cycle through residential areas and the town center, cross the Wiestetal valley and cross the A1 freeway until we reach the herb villages of Stapel and Horstedt. In Stapel there is a great rest area right next to Lower Saxony's largest lavender field.
On quiet country roads, surrounded by fertile fields and gentle meadows, we follow the route via Steinfeld through the Schierk forest area to Kirchtimke, which we reach after 12 km, where the historic fieldstone church of St. Lambertus from the 12th century is clearly visible in the village center.
Away from major roads, through open fields and small forests such as the Ummel, we finally reach Ostereistedt, another stage destination 16 km away and home of the Easter bunny "Hanni Hase". Every year at Easter, he throws a big party and, together with his helpers from the Easter Bunny Post Office, answers letters from all over the world.
From Ostereistedt, the next stage takes us south again through a slightly hilly Geest landscape formed by the last ice age and through the forest area "Großes Holz". From "village to village" we cycle via Oldendorf, Brüttendorf, Wehldorf and after 19 km we reach the village of Elsdorf, which offers opportunities for a short break.
We cycle again over the A 1 highway, then through a cultivated moorland landscape and on small side roads to Sothel and Westeresch, two quiet villages with traditional farms. 18 km later, we cross the Wümme in the middle of Rotenburg (Wümme). With its numerous restaurants and ice cream parlors, the small district town is an ideal place for a rest and refreshment in the midst of the small town atmosphere. The last 18 km section of the western loop follows gently winding roads that run alongside the Wümme, over the Wiedau and Rodau rivers, through the Ahewald forest and the "golden village" of Waffensen. The pretty village won the national "Our village has a future" competition in 1987 and 2010. From there it goes via Hassendorf back to Sottrum station.
Route markings
The road bike tours in the district of Rotenburg (Wümme) are neither signposted nor marked on site. GPX tracks are available for orientation (e.g. here on the page as a download).
Directions & Parking facilities
We recommend traveling by train:
The Sottrum train station (starting point of the Westschleife) can be reached directly by regional train from Hamburg and Bremen. The Rottenburg train station, where the regional express train also stops, is 1.5 km from the Westschleife. Information and tickets: bahn.de or vbn.de
The Sottrum train station (starting point of the Westschleife) can be reached directly by regional train from Hamburg and Bremen. The Rottenburg train station, where the regional express train also stops, is 1.5 km from the Westschleife. Information and tickets: bahn.de or vbn.de
Those arriving by car will find public parking spaces at the train stations in 27367 Sottrum and 27356 Rotenburg (Wümme).
Sottrum train station (starting point of the West Loop) can be reached directly by regional train from Hamburg and Bremen. The Rottenburg train station, where the regional express train also stops, is 1.5 km from the West Loop. Information and tickets: bahn.de or vbn.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 at tourist information offices, including in Sottrum and Rotenburg (Wümme).
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
There are various shops and places to stop for refreshments in the larger towns of Sottrum, Kirchtimke, Elsdorf and in the district town of Rotenburg (Wümme).
Radserviceläden can be found in Sottrum and Rotenburg (Wümme) (please note opening hours)
Safety guidelines
Please note:
The road traffic regulations (StVO) must always be observed.
Agricultural traffic always has priority.
Some sections may contain (small) potholes or cracks.
Some roads and cycle paths are sometimes (very) uneven and require careful driving.
Nearby
