Discover Ottlar: Hiking between the Dommel and Diemelsee

Ottlar is a good starting point if you would like to combine a trip with peaceful paths, distinctive viewpoints and historical details. The village is situated in a landscape where short circular hikes can be just as much a part of your holiday as routes through the Upland and towards Lake Diemelsee. When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Ottlar, you can therefore consider which focus best suits your trip: a manageable circular route, a viewpoint, the Diemelsteig trail or a cycle tour through the surrounding area.

Circular routes for different hiking days

The OT1 circular route leads around Ottlar. It is 3.8 kilometres long, described as an easy circular hiking trail, and starts and ends at the information board in the centre of the village. If you prefer a shorter route, the OT2 offers another option: this 2.7-kilometre easy circular hiking trail runs around the Dommel Tower and starts at the Dommel hiking car park, where it also ends.

The Dommel is around 738 metres high and the highest mountain in the municipality of Diemelsee. The Dommel Tower offers extensive views across Diemelsee Nature Park and the Sauerland Mountains. This gives a hike around Ottlar a clear connection to the landscape: you experience not only the paths but also views of the wider region. The Diemelsteig trail runs through Ottlar and connects the village with the landscape around Lake Diemelsee. Another route, the OT4, starts in the centre of the village and follows the Uplandsteig trail for part of the way around the Hohe Egge.

Local history and little breaks

In addition to the hiking trails, St Margaret's Church is part of Ottlar's villagescape. The hall church, built in the round-arch style, stands in the centre of the village and is dedicated to Saint Margaret of Antioch. A chapel already stood here in 1537; the present church was consecrated in 1874. A particular historical detail is the organ: it was originally built for the Waldeck Castle Chapel and has stood in Ottlar since 1750. Anyone who would also like to take in architectural history and regional traditions along the way can discover the church as part of a tour of the village without focusing the hiking day exclusively on nature experiences.

Ottlar also has a Kneipp water-treading facility. Around the Niegelscheid, a shelter invites you to take a break with panoramic views. You can take such destinations into account when planning a varied day. The peaceful paths around Ottlar are also suitable for cycle tours through the Upland landscape and towards Lake Diemelsee. Thus, in addition to the hiking routes described, there are also ideas for bicycle tours.

Choosing Ottlar as a holiday destination

A holiday apartment in Ottlar is particularly suitable if you would like to make the village and its paths the starting point for your own trip. When searching for accommodation, consider whether your planned holiday should focus more on short circular hiking trails, viewpoints, the Diemelsteig trail, local history or cycle tours. For further orientation, you can also visit Heringhausen, Stormbruch, Adorf and Schweinsbühl. This allows you to compare different places before deciding on accommodation and the right focus for your holiday.

For the overarching travel overview: Diemelsee.