On the Oste cycle path through moor and marsh
The "inventor" of the Oste cycle path, Klaus Feldmann, called his route the Seelenbaumelroute. Indeed, from the source of the longest tributary of the Lower Elbe, the route takes a quiet and tranquil route northwards. The mostly flat cycle route on dyke and field paths crosses moorland, geest and marsh areas characterised by ice ages and leads past small villages in Lower Saxony.
A highlight of the tour are the ferries of all kinds that cross the river, especially the unusual transporter bridge at Hemmoor-Osten. The northern section of the Oste cycle route is identical to the southern section of the German Ferry Route Bremervörde - Kiel and is signposted accordingly. A tip for culinary discoveries: Be sure to try the Oste eel and take part in a smelt dinner. Smelt is a small salmon-like fish that is mainly found on the Lower Elbe.
Journey:
The starting point in Tostedt is well connected to the DB network. For the return journey from Neuhaus, which takes just under two hours, you have to travel to neighbouring Cadenberge and take the Metronom train there (one change). www.bahn.de
Tour combinations:
Hamburg-Bremen route, mill route (Rotenburg district), Lüneburg Heath Cycle Route, Elbe-Weser Cycle Route, route from Teufelsmoor to the Wadden Sea, German Ferry Route, Lower Saxony Mill Route, North Sea Coast Cycle Route
Accommodation tips:
Flusshotel Fährkrug in Osten, www.faehrkrug.de
The house by the river in Oberndorf, www.das-haus-am-fluss.de
Villa Wilhelmina in Hemmoor, www.ferienwohnung-hemmoor.de
Worth seeing:
- the villages of Granstedt, Ober Ochtenhausen and Sandbostel
- Bremervörde on Lake Vörder, www.bremervörde.de
- Tister Bauernmoor with observation tower, www.tister-bauernmoor.de
- Hemmoor-Osten transporter bridge, www.schwebefaehre-osten.de
Maps and literature:
Kompass Cycling Map 1:70,000 "Cycling Region Rotenburg (Wümme) between Heath and North Sea, Elbe and Weser". Overview map "Osteradweg & Deutsche Fährstraße" free of charge from the Wingst tourist information centre at www.wingst.de.
Descriptions: www.oste-radweg.de
Information:
Arbeitsgemeinschaft Osteland e.V., www.oste.de,
www.niederelbe.de/osteland
The complete article was published in Trekkingbike issue 6/2017.
