High Mark Cycle Route

As the Hohe Mark CycleRoute is a circular route, you can start wherever you like! How about Olfen?
The picturesque Stever floodplains in the town are a great prelude to numerous nature experiences along the cycle route. Wild cattle, Konik horses and Poitou donkeys populate the banks of the small river, which has developed into a natural paradise in its floodplains. With many wonderful impressions, you then cycle out of Olfen. Always along the water, past the point where the Dortmund-Ems Canal and Wesel-Datteln Canal meet.

The lakeside town with lots of nature

You reach Haltern am See - here too, water is the defining element. Plan some time for a boat trip on the reservoir and enjoy beautiful lake views. The Westruper Heide is also part of the Haltern must-do programme. The sandy paths, just a few metres from the reservoir, are reserved for pedestrians. A walk through the tranquillity of nature is a real highlight - especially in August and September when the heath is in bloom.

Architecture in the countryside

Then you leave the Münsterland for a while, cycling through Dorsten and Schermbeck to finally arrive in Raesfeld. Even from a distance, you can't miss the municipality's romantic moated castle. Behind the castle lies the historic zoo, a gem for nature lovers. Cross the park on three signposted routes.

Before continuing on to Isselburg, you will pass the Dingdener Heide. An idyllic recreational area surrounded by spruce and deciduous forests. The nature here is characterised by a mosaic of grassland, fields, small woods, hedgerows, deciduous woods and pine forests.

Anholt moated castle is the centre of attention at the start of the second part of the cycle route. The mighty castle and the interesting museum are worth the trip alone. Directly adjacent is the Anholter Schweiz biotope wildlife park. Wolves, lynxes and many other animal species live here in large enclosures surrounded by gentle nature. The centrepiece of the park is the "Swiss Cottage" in the middle of the lake.

The tour continues to Bocholt: the town is one of the largest and liveliest in Münsterland. It is not only worth taking a stroll through the pedestrianised zone, but also circling the Aasee lake. The route will inevitably lead you to the interesting exhibitions in the historic textile factory.

You cycle past the municipality of Rhede to the next natural highlight: close to the Dutch border, the Burlo-Vardingholter Venn is a wetland area that is particularly worthy of protection.

The wild romance of the nature park

Several places worth seeing await you in the district town of Borken: the Pröbstingsee lake with its neighbouring forest area, the beautiful Gemen Castle as well as the Apothecary Garden and the Picker Garden. You'll be spoilt for choice.
Finally, the route continues to Velen, where this gem is well worth a visit: The historic zoo at Velen Castle. The formally designed paths contrast beautifully with the wild and romantic vegetation. Then several natural beauties take over again: the Kuhlenvenn nature reserve in Gescher, the Schwarze Venn in Heiden and the Heubachwiesen me adows in the north of Reken. They are home to many meadow-breeding birds, for which the wet meadows provide excellent living conditions.

The last wild horses in Europe

The most prominent inhabitants of the Merfelder Bruch near Dülmen are much larger. Europe's last wild horses live here with almost no human contact. The hardy four-legged creatures usually move calmly and serenely through the densely wooded surroundings. But there is one last highlight on the programme: the Dülmen Wildlife Park! The park is one of the most beautiful parks in Münsterland and is home to many native animals. These include fallow deer, sheep and moorland sheep, which live there completely free. Dülmen is the last major town before the Hohe Mark Cycle Route returns to its starting point in Olfen.