Badendorf: Wüstenei and Trails

In Badendorf, you can plan your stay around the Wüstenei landscape and longer hikes and bike rides in the surrounding area. Two things are important when planning: only part of the protected area is open to visitors, and the trails in the wider area offer another way to spend time outdoors.

Wüstenei and trails around Badendorf

Badendorf lies on the edge of the Wüstenei Landscape Conservation Area. Its landscape includes bodies of water, meadows, wooded areas, forests, hedgerows, and small streams. However, only part of the area is open to visitors. In the accessible area, you can hike, cycle, and jog. Cars and motorcycles are not permitted; dogs must be kept on a leash. Access may be temporarily suspended during military exercises. So check the visitor rules and access before setting out.

The cycling and walking options in the surrounding area also help with planning your stay. A municipal brochure from June 2020 describes an extensive network of cycle paths in and around Badendorf and mentions longer hikes and bike rides. Use this as general guidance, not as an up-to-date directory of individual routes; check current information when planning a specific route.

If you are looking for accommodation, these differences can shape your choice of outings: Wüstenei has a limited visitor area with clear rules, while longer hikes and bike rides take you into the wider Badendorf area. Whether you prefer walking, jogging, or cycling depends on the trails available and your own plans for the day; this does not imply that particular trails are connected.

Stormarn: Hiking and cycling

The wider Stormarn destination offers short and long circular hiking trails, as well as the Stormarnweg and the Way of St. James. Hahnheide, Stormarn’s largest nature reserve, offers extensive hiking opportunities. A specific example of a shorter walk is the “Around Herrenteich” nature trail in Reinfeld: it is four kilometres long, has 16 stations, and runs directly along the edge of the “Oberer Herrenteich” nature reserve. The regional offering therefore includes both named trails and a nature trail with a set length and number of stations.

Stormarn offers more than 20 circular cycling routes. The BahnRadWege (railway cycle routes) follow the tracks of three former railway lines through the region’s landscapes. One themed option is the “Post Train Robbery on the State Railway Line” crime trail: on BahnRadWeg B, it combines a bike ride with puzzles and a fictional historical investigation into a post train robbery. The options therefore differ not only in the type of route, but also in whether you are looking for a circular tour, a former railway line, or a story-based puzzle route.

Cultural landscapes and other highlights in Stormarn

Stormarn also has points of interest for culture enthusiasts. Ahrensburg Castle was completed in 1585 and has served continuously as a museum since 1955. Reinbek Castle, built in the Dutch Renaissance style, was constructed between 1572 and 1576; following extensive restoration, it serves as a cultural and community centre in Reinbek. Both castles combine historic architecture with present-day cultural use, but their stated functions differ.

Historical records for Jersbek Estate date back to the 16th century; the estate has been farmed ever since. The 18th-century Baroque garden is open to visitors. Herrenteich in Reinfeld offers a different kind of excursion: Cistercian monks created it in the 12th century as an artificial weir pond on the Heilsau for fish farming. These examples add a cultural and historical dimension to a stay in Stormarn, alongside its hiking and cycling opportunities. For regional produce, there are also farm shops and farm cafés offering products from the surrounding agricultural area.

Discover more destinations: Klein Wesenberg, Stapelfeld, Todendorf, Bad Oldesloe, Hoisdorf, Nienwohld, Großhansdorf, Jersbek

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Stormarn.