Westerstede: Parks, Trails and Draisine Rides
Accommodation in Westerstede
Westerstede combines an extensive network of cycling and walking trails with distinctive green spaces and striking buildings in the town centre. There is also the Ammerland Draisine Fun on a disused railway line. This lets you choose different focuses for your stay: trails on foot or by bike, a visit to a large rhododendron park, insights into the town’s history or a draisine ride. Westerstede is a state-recognised health resort.
Ein Weg durch den Rhododendronpark Hobbie in Petersfeld bei Westerstede.
Photo: Corradox via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Green spaces with their own character
Hobbie Rhododendron Park covers 70 hectares and is Germany’s largest rhododendron park by area. Its network of paths is more than 10 kilometres long. The park’s size and trails make it a destination in its own right for anyone planning a visit to a green space during their trip. The Park of Rarities focuses on other woody plants: it features 212 special woody plants and more than 2,000 accompanying perennials. Guided tours of the Park of Rarities are available by arrangement.
Thalenweide City Park in the centre of Westerstede also has some remarkable features. Among other things, it is home to a 350-year-old oak. The water tower, built in 1933 to supply the town with water, is also located in the same city park. Those interested in old trees can make the oak their focus; those fascinated by local history have another specific topic to explore in the water tower.
Townscape, church and open-air theatre
St. Peter’s Church stands in the town centre. It is Westerstede’s oldest building and a landmark of the town. Its distinctive tower is 48 metres high. The church shapes the town-centre skyline, and the tower is an easy-to-appreciate detail for anyone who also takes an interest in architecture when visiting a town.
At the foot of St. Peter’s Church, the Old Market becomes a theatre stage every two years: the Westerstede Open-Air Theatre Association stages two plays there for audiences of all ages. The open-air theatre offers a different focus from the parks or trails. If you are travelling with children, you can include it in your plans as a cultural activity to enjoy together; performances take place every two years.
Trails and a draisine ride
The Ammerland Draisine Fun runs along a disused railway line between Westerstede and the district of Ocholt. Since 2006, twelve bicycle dresines, each seating four people, and three club dresines, each seating 16 people, have operated there. The season runs from 1 April to 15 October. The route is seven kilometres long and has three stations for breaks. Both the route length and the specified stops provide practical points of reference for planning your day.
The station for the Ammerland Draisine Fun is located on the grounds of the G. D. Boehlje nursery in Westerstede. Another trail option is the Linsweger Eschweg, which starts and ends at the Westerstede district office or the Sonnenhof Hotel. Together with the extensive cycling and walking trail network, these offer different ways to discover Westerstede on foot, by bike or by draisine, without implying that the routes are one and the same.
Choose the right focus for your stay
When looking for a holiday apartment in Westerstede, you can start by asking yourself which of these experiences matter most during your stay. For a visit focused on green spaces, Hobbie Rhododendron Park, covering 70 hectares, and the special woody plants in the Park of Rarities are highlights. If you prefer the townscape and history, explore the town centre with St. Peter’s Church and Thalenweide City Park. For an activity to enjoy together, a draisine ride is a separate excursion option.
More places to choose from: Rastede, Bad Zwischenahn, Wiefelstede, Edewecht, Apen.
For the broader travel overview: Ammerland.
