What's better than a bike ride? Exactly, a bike ride with friends. That's why I gathered a few people to join me on my favorite short bike tour: along the Springorumtrasse to Bochum Dahlhausen, along the Ruhr River to Lake Kemnade, and then along the Oelbach stream to Lake Ümmingen. Find out now what highlights this route has to offer and what unexpected animal visitor crossed our path.
A leisurely start and a detour
The weather is on our side, and under a bright sun, we pack all sorts of delicacies into our panniers. Let's see where we can stop for a little picnic during the tour. I confidently lead our "tour group" to the Springorum route, which already holds lovely details for us along the way.
We start at junction 21. However, you can also start the tour at Bochum Central Station and cycle from there to the Springorumtrasse:
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Once we arrive on the former railway line, we glide along effortlessly. The Springorum Trail connects the north and south of Bochum over a length of 10 km and is perfect for pedestrians, joggers, and cyclists alike – whether for an after-work stroll or a bike tour with friends.
The trail is a bit emptier than expected given the weather, and we're making good time. So we spontaneously decide to take a detour to the BMX and mountain bike park to keep the youngest in our group entertained. The park was reopened in the summer of 2020 after renovations and is suitable for beginners as well as advanced riders.
While my male companion starts discussing the course in detail, I enjoy my first chocolate roll in the shade and apply another layer of sunscreen. A sense of departure slowly sets in, and we continue our tour along the Springorum trail. When the bridge with its large yellow suns greets us with a friendly smile, we've reached our first real milestone.
Picnic break with a view
The entrance to Weitmar Castle Park leads us just a few meters away from the railway line. We're not the only ones enjoying the green meadows in front of and around Weitmar Castle. We lean our bicycles against the trees or lay them on the grass and get out our picnic blankets and provisions.
While we leisurely enjoy our first grapes and pizza rolls, we can admire the view of Weitmar Castle.
The castle ruins are not only a real eye-catcher from the outside. Inside, among other things, awaits... Baristoteles Event Coffee RoasterySandra has already examined it closely for you. However, we are well-supplied with our picnic treats and are watching the lively activity at the small lake, which ducks and herons peacefully share.
We're satisfied for now and get ready to leave. With our new goal in mind – dipping our feet into the refreshing waters of the Ruhr – we swing ourselves onto the saddle a little faster.
It rolls well downhill.
Just one or two strong pedal strokes and the bike practically rides itself. That's the advantage of heading towards the Ruhr Valley, as it's all downhill. A personal highlight: you cycle mostly away from the roads and only occasionally have to brake to check left and right. We arrive in Bochum-Dahlhausen feeling wonderfully relaxed. A quick spin around the roundabout towards junction 27 and we're already at the floating bridge that takes us across the Ruhr.
The Ruhr Valley Cycle Path As the name suggests, we cycle right alongside the Ruhr River, which is already quite full of canoes, stand-up paddleboards, and other boats. My fellow travelers are delighted by how flat and pleasant the route is. I nod with a smile, but I'm already thinking about the hill we'll have to climb later on our way to Lake Ümmingen. But there's still some time before then.
Well, well? What's the barrier doing here?
Searching for a suitable spot for our second picnic, complete with a refreshing footbath, we cover meter after meter until a red and white barrier suddenly stops us in our tracks. It's not a barrier for people, however, but for animals. Until now, I only knew it marked the boundary of the sheep's grazing area – but we'll see. We've barely pushed our bikes onto the grass and spread out our blankets when the first ones are already running towards the water. Good thing I packed a towel for our feet before we started our tour. The path to the refreshing water involves a bit of a climb, but we reach the Ruhr River safely and wade in up to our calves.
And please: Don't underestimate the Ruhr! It's a popular swimming spot, but it remains an unpredictable river. If you want to swim in the Ruhr, use the official swimming area near Dahlhausen train station on the Ruhr Valley Cycle Path. Orange buoys mark the safe swimming area there.
Unexpected visit
Just as we were getting really comfortable on the blankets, we heard a deep, rumbling "Moo!" from behind us. So, it certainly wasn't sheep... A herd of cows was heading purposefully across the meadow towards the Ruhr River. One cow was distracted by the melon-patterned parasol belonging to our picnicking neighbors and sniffed at it with interest – but in the end, she seemed a bit disappointed and decided to follow the others to the water.
We decide to leave the cows alone during their bath in the Ruhr and break camp for the second picnic.
A flurry of activity is followed by pure deceleration.
The second red and white barrier is bustling with activity, and we're practically passing each other by oncoming traffic. After just a few meters, we hear a rushing sound and cycle straight past the Ruhr Cascades. An older couple is pulling a paddleboat through the boat slide, and I can't help but think back to my school days and how long it's been since I last paddled on the Ruhr... That's definitely going on my to-do list, and I'll have to go back for some inspiration. Johanna's excursion tip We study. We pedal up the winding road to Bochumer Straße, where we cross a bridge to the other side of the Ruhr River. For the next stretch, we are accompanied by meadows, fields, and a bit of forest, which provide a wonderful opportunity to slow down. We arrive at the "RG Hof Balte" riding club on Brockhauser Straße in a leisurely manner, without any traffic.
In princely company
From here on, we have to share the road with cars for a bit. In the distance, we can already catch a glimpse of the castle tower of Blankenstein Castle. The castle dates back to the 13th century. Where knights and ladies once strolled, you can now dine in the restaurant, participate in a medieval banquet, or even get married – and those who take the trouble to climb the 156 steps to the top of the tower will be rewarded with a wonderful view of the surrounding landscape.
How beautiful this view must be, we can only imagine from down in the Ruhr Valley… Soon we turn right again, leaving the traffic behind and getting (once again) closer to the Ruhr River and Lake Kemnade – and here too, the castle tower of Blankenstein Castle accompanies us in the distance. We glide along comfortably on the asphalt. Bicycles, towels, and camping chairs are lined up along the banks of the Ruhr: apparently, quite a few people are looking for a cool, shady spot in this weather.
A break with a view
We decide to cycle along the northern shore of Lake Kemnade and can enjoy the expansive view across the lake from a little above the footpath and inline skating path. Just like on the Ruhr River, there are a few people out on the water here too (only a bit bigger).
During a final quick strategy meeting, we agree to skip the picnic break at Lake Kemnade and treat ourselves to ice cream later at Lake Ümmingen instead. That doesn't stop me from eating a few chocolate cookies before they completely take over. For that special holiday feeling, I recommend a visit to StrandDeck Kemnade – here you can bury your feet in the sand while relaxing with a cool drink in hand and a view of palm trees. So, if you're still looking for beach club tips for the coming summer weeks, check out... Katalina's article.
Almost there!
My legs were starting to feel heavy, and as the climb between Lake Kemnade and Lake Ümmingen loomed, I mustered all my remaining strength (perhaps a longer break at Lake Kemnade would have been a good idea after all...). Once I reached the top, I could assure my fellow cyclists that they had now mastered the most strenuous part of the tour with flying colors. What goes up must come down... Passing the Oelbach stream and Haus Heven (a former manor house), the thought of a well-deserved ice cream propelled us onward.
For the grand finale
We quickly cover half the loop around Lake Ümmingen and secure a spot in the already quite long queue at the ice cream truck. The ice cream truck isn't featured in any of the ice cream parlor reviews from... Laura or Nina ahead, but I can tell you: After about 44 kilometers, I have to remind myself not to breathe in the ice directly.
We're heading home now, I recommend you follow the tour itinerary (the GPX(You can find the track in the grey box below) continue to Bochum Central Station.
My conclusion
It's no wonder this route is my favorite for a short bike ride (right on my doorstep). I'm always amazed by how flat most of the route is. Surrounded by nature, water, and little highlights like the view of Blankenstein Castle, I can truly unwind. The special touch this time was definitely the unexpected cow visit by the Ruhr River. The combination of cycling and a picnic worked perfectly for us on this tour – if you're looking for more picnic spots (also along the Ruhr), you'll find them in... Article by Johanna find.
An article by Doreen Scholz, who implements the measures for the REACT EU project for our activism and culture team.
