Meschede on Lake Henne: Trails, Water and History

At Lake Henne: walking, playing and getting out on the water

There are several ways to spend a day at Lake Henne. The Wogenweg follows the shore and connects nature and culture: twelve steles feature a changing selection of themed poems. The circular hiking trail marked “A8” goes all the way around the reservoir and offers views of the lake. If you prefer to link individual lakeside sights, you’ll find a range of route ideas here.

At Berghausen bathing bay, activities include swimming, stand-up paddleboarding at the water sports station, sailing and rowing. The Pirate Bay adds a free outdoor adventure playground to a visit to Lake Henne, with a pirate ship, climbing and play equipment, and an accessible inclusive area. From the parking area at the bathing bay, an accessible path leads there in about five minutes. Benches in quiet and relaxation areas offer a place to unwind, watch the surroundings and enjoy a picnic.

You can also experience the landscape from the water: the fully electric EMS Hennesee event boat offers a 1.5-hour scheduled cruise and can accommodate up to 550 guests. It is accessible. Families who would like to combine their excursions with a manageable walk on land can also try the family-friendly sensory trail above the lake. Its ten interactive stations and viewpoints draw attention to the Lake Henne surroundings.

Hiking trails with different highlights

The Meschede Heights Trail is a circular route marked with an “M” that runs through the municipality. It leads from Erflinghausen via Grevenstein and Freienohl to Eversberg and offers views across the region. The Sauerland Forest Route is on a different scale: this 240-kilometre long-distance hiking trail runs from Iserlohn to Marsberg and passes through Arnsberg Forest Nature Park in Meschede. In Eversberg, there is an access point at Buchsplitt.

In Eversberg, the approximately 2.5-kilometre Old Town Trail passes the historic town hall and half-timbered houses. From the castle ruins, views stretch across Eversberg; the route also leads to an adventure playground shaped like a knight’s castle. Those interested in chapels and wayside crosses can consider the 6.5-kilometre Eversberg Chapel Trail. It starts in the historic centre of Meschede-Eversberg, where typical Sauerland half-timbered houses can be seen. The trail links notable chapels, wayside crosses and wayside shrines around the old hill town.

Local history and special discoveries

In Eversberg’s historic centre, cobblestone streets, half-timbered houses and the market square with its old town hall shape the scene. You can explore the local history museum on your own or on a guided tour. Grevenstein also has a historic centre: old slate and half-timbered houses stand around the church and Burgmannshof manor house. The Beer-Brewing Wonder Trail presents the history of brewing on information boards; places to stop along the way include a viewing counter with a woodland fridge and a large barrel-shaped seat.

In Remblinghausen, the historic sawmill is a local landmark. As a cultural monument, it offers a glimpse into 200 years of everyday life and work, with guided tours, a children’s programme and a variety of activities. In Freienohl, seven information panels on the bee trail explain bees and beekeeping; at the end of the circular route, there is a display case containing a live bee colony. The Buzzing School and Adventure Garden in Berge is open to everyone and uses information panels to cover the lives of bees and the natural world.

Other special destinations range from herb walks in Erflinghausen, where visitors learn about wild herbs of the Sauerland with experienced guides, to public guided tours of the grounds of Königsmünster Abbey. These take place on Saturdays and cover monastic life as well as the lives and work of the Benedictines. At the Henne Reservoir, a guided tour includes the hydroelectric power station, the bottom outlet tunnels and the dam’s inspection tunnel system; beforehand, a film introduces the work of the Ruhrverband and the history and function of the reservoir.

Choose the right place for your holiday

Which holiday apartment in Meschede suits your plans also depends on the experiences you want to focus on. For days by the water, the bathing bay, Wogenweg and boat trips are the main attractions; for hiking, options include the trails around Eversberg and the Meschede Heights Trail. If you enjoy local history and half-timbered houses, consider including Eversberg and Grevenstein in your plans. Compare the available locations based on your preferred starting point rather than treating all the excursions as one single area.

The Meschede municipal area also includes Frenkhausen, Oberberge, Erflinghausen, Remblinghausen, Eversberg, Wennemen, Grevenstein and Freienohl. When looking for accommodation, you can also consider the place names that match the sights you plan to explore.

For the broader travel overview: Hochsauerlandkreis.