Discover Hövelhof: Paths through the Senne and Moosheide
Accommodation in Hövelhof
Hövelhof offers various ways to explore the Senne on foot or by bicycle. Hiking trails lead through dense forests, alongside fields and over gentle hills in the Moosheide nature reserve. There are also cycling routes for short discovery trips and longer rides. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Hövelhof, you might first consider whether hiking, cycling or the history of the Senne will be the main focus of your stay.
Hiking trails through the forest and Moosheide
Hövelhof maintains a hiking trail network of around 79 kilometres. Regular inspections and necessary repairs ensure that the trails are well marked. The hiking routes described offer a variety of impressions: in the Moosheide, dense forests alternate with fields and gentle hills. This makes it possible to discover the landscape along routes with different themes and starting points.
The four-kilometre Hövelhof Rally is a short route with a clearly defined course. It starts and ends at the former Hövelhof hunting lodge. Those interested in the history of the forest can follow the local history trail, a themed route of around six kilometres. It starts and ends at the hiking car park on Von-der-Recke-Straße. The route combines hiking with a glimpse into the history of the Hövelhof forest.
The hiking car park at the Ems Information Centre is right next to the centre. From there, you can hike to the Ems springs and through the Moosheide nature reserve. This offers several options for setting out on a hike: a themed route about the history of the forest, or trails heading towards the springs and nature reserve.
Cycling tours, from short outings to long-distance routes
Well-developed, clearly marked cycle paths in Hövelhof make short discovery trips possible, as well as cross-border long-distance cycling routes. The Senne-Parcours Hövelhof is a 60-kilometre circular cycling route that lets you experience the nature, landscape and culture of the Senne region. It starts right at Hövelhof railway station. If you are looking for a circular route, you can distinguish this parcours from a long-distance cycle route, which allows for a longer journey spread over several days.
The EmsRadweg starts at the Ems Information Centre in Hövelhof and follows the Ems to Emden on the North Sea. It can be ridden over several daily stages. When planning your trip, it makes a difference whether you want to cycle in and around Hövelhof or take a multi-day ride along the Ems. The cycle paths in Hövelhof also serve as a starting point for cycling tours.
Culture and discoveries for a range of interests
The former hunting lodge is a listed monument, is often considered a landmark of Hövelhof and is a popular photo backdrop. It is also the start and finish point of the Hövelhof Rally. The Heimatzentrum Senne offers a different perspective on the region’s past: through exhibits and talks, it presents the living conditions and way of life of the people of the Senne around 1900 across five buildings and approximately 1,100 square metres.
On activity days, traditional workshops are put back into operation at the Heimatzentrum, and bread baking is demonstrated. These demonstrations take place only on activity days. At the Ems Information Centre, children can use various models to make the Ems spring forth and guide a ship through the Ems barrier at Gandersum. So, alongside hiking and cycling tours, there are also interactive discoveries about the Senne and the Ems.
The Hövelhof Mill Tour also passes through a distinctive landscape: it crosses the Rixelbruch nature reserve, with its dunes. Together with the forest trails of the Moosheide, the Senne-Parcours and the EmsRadweg, it shows just how many different ways there are to spend time in Hövelhof. These varied interests may help you choose a holiday apartment—whether you are planning short walks, a circular cycling route or a longer ride over several stages.
More places to explore: Delbrück, Barkhausen, Paderborn, Büren, Borchen, Herbram, Bad Lippspringe and Altenbeken.
Back to the main travel overview: Paderborn.
