FACT IS:
At 169 metres, the highest mountain in the North German Plain is the Wilseder Berg in the Lüneburg Heath (see Lower Saxony tour tip). And it is therefore well within the range of a weekend trip for bikers from Bremen or Hamburg. The latter, however, prefer to hang out on the trails of the Harburg mountains in the south of Hamburg after the evening celebrations. Or you can take a detour to the Baltic coast, where some beautiful trails lead along the cliffs from Kiel. The most northerly elevations of all are the Hüttener Berge between Rendsburg and Eckernförde at 106 metres (marked cycle routes). Further scenic and technical cycling highlights can be found in the hills around Malente (Holstein Switzerland). Idyllic lakes and the trails up the 168 metre high Bungsberg are included. The Müritz, Germany's second largest lake, stretches between Rostock and Berlin. It is part of the Mecklenburg Lake District. Numerous nature parks here ensure unspoilt nature and therefore relaxing biking fun. Berlin's bike scene loves to meet up in the Grunewald forest. A network of narrow paths and single trails is interwoven around the 115 metre high Teufelsberg. Or you can enjoy the view from the 115 metre high Müggelberge in south-east Berlin before plunging into the downhill (Köpenick dirt scene).
THE BEST SIGNPOSTS
Keel
One tour each in Kiel, Lütjenburg and Malente BIKE 05/01
Hamburg
City-Guide, 2 tours BIKE 09/00
Berlin
Cityguide, 3 tours, BIKE 08/99
The best tours on the Internet:
www.mtb-brandenburg.de (11 tours in Berlin and Brandenburg)
www.sprungparadies.de (Hamburg dirt scene)
www.schlickjumper.de (Dirt/BMX/MTB portal for Hamburg/
Northern Germany)
www.bikeszene-nord.de (MTB portal for the north)
THE TOP FIVE
Harburger Berge (Fischbeker Heide/Hamburg)
Lovely trail loop in the south of the city (20 km, 263 m elevation gain). Can be extended at will, beautiful viewpoints, BIKE 9/00.
Schwentine Trails (Schleswig-Holstein/Kiel)
An enjoyable ride from Kiel along the Kiel Fjord, continuing along forest tracks and single trails back to Kiel (52 km, 229 m elevation gain). Info and GPS data at www.gps-tour.info.
Baltic Sea coastal path (Schleswig-Holstein/Kiel)
From Bülker lighthouse along the cliffs towards Eckernförde (approx. 40 km, incl. journey to/from Kiel). Roadbook in BIKE 05/01.
Holstein Switzerland (Schleswig-Holstein/Eutin)
An easy tour through the green hills of Holstein Switzerland (36 km, 349 metres in altitude). Tip: A detour to the Bungsberg. Information and GPS data free of charge at www.gps-tour.info.
Lake Plau (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania/Müritz)
Circumnavigation of the third largest of the Mecklenburg lakes (45 km, 283 m elevation gain). Info and GPS data: www.gps-tour.info.
Downloads:
Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
