Heidschnuckenweg

So when I say hiking in Hamburg, I realise this sounds odd. Hamburg is pretty far up North and, frankly, pretty flat. It's also essentially at the total opposite end of the country from where the mountains are. So seems like an unusual place to go walking. 

But, since Hamburg was where I lived, and my nearest mountain was about 6 hours away by train, you have to find the walks closer to home. And I found the Heidschnuckenweg.

The Heidschnuckenweg (SUCH a mouthful for us non-native German speakers) is essentially a long route from just south of Hamburg to a town called Celle. Think Camino Santiago, but in North Germany. And probably colder. 

It's split into several stages, but I've only done stages 1 & 2, since these are the only stages I can reasonably do in a day trip from Hamburg, and still make it back in time for work. The first stage also happens to be one of the longest, so I can only imagine every day after day 1 must feel like a holiday. 

This stage starts at the train stop Hamburg-Fischbek.

This is where the route is tricky. It officially says it's 26km, BUT, it doesn't factor in the 2km it takes to get from train to starting point. So all in, you're looking at about 30km, which is fine, but also ouch. 

But, this is one of the easiest routes to follow. Take yourself to the Fischbecker Heide and just 'follow the H' - it's pretty well signposted, though you have to keep your eyes peeled when you reach some of the more open fields. 

What is amazing about this walk is that you cover a lot of ground over 30km. You start on the Heide, walk through woods, open fields, through tiny villages, and by the end we were overtaken by a very athletic eldery couple who I have a lot of respect for. If the weather is sunny (like it was for us) then a) wear sunscreen and b) you are going to have the most amazing views. It was genuinely hard to believe we were only a 20 minute train ride from Hamburg.

Stage 2 is a much easier and gentler 15km walk from Bucholz train station to Handeloh train station. This is a beautiful walk through the woods mostly, but there is one part where you climb a hill to the top of the Heide, and it's a great place to stop for lunch. The view is nice, and I am told that when the Heide blooms all its purple flowers, it's amazing.

This stage is also a pretty great one for when the weather is not guaranteed to be great. It goes through a lot of woodland, so you can find a bit of shelter there. Though it goes without saying for anyone who lives anywhere near Hamburg: a raincoat is a must, because it's probably going to rain.