Herdecke: Lakes, Old Town and Industrial Heritage

Herdecke combines two lakes, wooded hills and an old town that bears traces of its history. There are also waterside paths and a remarkable testament to the history of energy. If you like to choose between outdoor activities, a stroll through town and technical discoveries during your stay, Herdecke offers a variety of options.

Cycling and walking between the lakes

The Ruhr Valley Cycle Route runs directly through Herdecke, along the shores of Lake Hengstey and Lake Harkort and beneath the Ruhr Viaduct. This means the route combines a cycling tour with distinctive landscapes and structures. The viaduct itself is a 313-metre-long sandstone bridge that rises almost 30 metres above Lake Harkort. Its surroundings are ideal for leisurely walks and bike rides.

A 7-kilometre path circles Lake Hengstey and can be used for walking, jogging and cycling. Well-maintained paths around both lakes also offer opportunities for jogging and inline skating. If you prefer to be on the water, Lake Hengstey and Lake Harkort are both well suited to canoeing and rowing. When planning your holiday, you can choose from these options according to the kind of activity you want, without letting a bike, running shoes or a boat dictate how you spend the day.

The H1 circular route offers another option: it starts south of the Mühlencenter in Herdecke, by the Ruhr, and its level access path leads towards Lake Harkort. If you prefer a flat access path to cycling or a longer walk, you can take this into account when choosing your outings. The Herdecke cycling station offers bicycle storage, rentals and minor repairs.

A stroll through the old town and a look at the history of technology

A historic stroll through the old town takes you through the Bachviertel district and around the 1,000-year-old Stiftshügel hill. A wayfinding system and numbered information panels on historic buildings mark the route. Kampstraße is lined with historic half-timbered buildings featuring carriage archways; their inscriptions give the years 1819 and 1809. The stroll combines a guided route through the district with details to look out for as you admire the buildings.

For a different perspective on Herdecke, visit the Koepchenwerk power station on Lake Hengstey. It is considered a nationally significant monument to the energy industry and combines the history of technology with modern energy-generation technology. A 4-kilometre stage of the Route of Industrial Heritage also starts there, along the Ruhr Valley Cycle Route. If you are interested in buildings, energy and industrial history, you can plan a visit as a separate highlight alongside the old town and nature.

Hills, water and finding the right holiday apartment

The wooded hills of the Ardey Mountains near Herdecke offer opportunities for hiking and enjoying nature. Together with its location between Lake Hengstey and Lake Harkort, this makes Herdecke a destination where waterside routes and hiking offer different ways to spend your stay. When choosing your holiday apartment, consider whether you would rather spend your free time on lakeside outings, strolling through the old town, exploring industrial heritage or hiking.

Herdecke railway station offers connections to Hagen and Dortmund and is a 10–15-minute walk away. These rail connections may also factor into your choice of where to stay. If you are planning a cycling-focused holiday, you can also take Herdecke’s location on the Ruhr Valley Cycle Route and the services at the cycling station into account.

Discover more places

If you would like to explore more places in this selection: Gevelsberg, Schwelm, Breckerfeld, Witten, Sprockhövel, Wetter, Hattingen and Ennepetal.

For the main travel overview: Ennepe-Ruhr District.