Two years ago, Pascal and I were on a really great trip Border crossing tour from Hamm to the district of Warendorf On the road. We enjoyed this route so much that we absolutely wanted to explore another tour this year. This time, the tour would start in Hamm, go a little further west, and take us even further north into the Warendorf district. With the node systemSince our route connects almost seamlessly to ours, the rough tour planning is quickly done.

This time, the focus will be on rural life with its many fields, farms and wide landscapes over 76 kilometers of cycling – a really nice little rural break for stressed city dwellers like us.

Spring is the most beautiful time for a countryside getaway.

The itinerary focuses less on major, well-known tourist attractions and more on a deeper dive into the agriculture surrounding the Ruhr region. In my opinion, spring is the perfect time for this. The rapeseed fields are in full bloom, bathing the vast expanses in a golden yellow glow. Meadows shimmer in fresh shades of green, creating a stunning panorama of a relaxing countryside excursion against the backdrop of the deep blue sky and dotted with small white clouds. Meanwhile, farm shops beckon with the first juicy red strawberries, fresh asparagus, and delicious cakes. So, let's head out into the countryside!

A quick journey with Deutsche Bahn

Yes, besides cycling, I'm generally more of a car person. But for this tour, we decided to travel by train. The regional express train actually takes us even faster than the motorway eastward, and we arrive at Hamm/Westphalia's main train station in a very relaxed manner.

If you have a Germany Ticket, you just need to quickly get the additional ticket for your bike. Otherwise, traveling with the "Schöne-Fahrt-Ticket" (Beautiful Journey Ticket) or (if you can start after 9 a.m.) the "Schöner-Tag-Ticket" (Beautiful Day Ticket) on the route across the Ruhr metropolis isn't really expensive either. The train isn't very crowded after rush hour, and we find plenty of space for our bikes. Plus, there's a second breakfast (provided you've picked something up from the bakery beforehand), and then we can start our bike tour.

No sign of big-city theater on the bike

Cycling in the city isn't always the best experience. But in Hamm, Pascal and I escaped the city traffic in a leisurely 5 minutes and are now cycling (currently briefly on a construction detour; as of May 12, 2023) through the beautiful Lippe meadows. A new little viewpoint immediately catches our eye. Pascal is in charge of taking pictures again today and immediately starts snapping photos…

We quickly continue our journey, driving further and further out of Hamm along the Arthur-Seifert-Weg. A lovely stream called the Geinegge babbles alongside us, and we intensely enjoy the natural surroundings in the middle of the forest – wonderful.

100 Castles Route

The 100 Castles Route cycle path runs right through the Münsterland region. Today we'll be cycling along sections of this route and seeing several castles and fortresses in the Münsterland. Our starting point is Haus Emelinghof, an old manor house in the far north of Hamm. The manor is privately owned and unfortunately not open to the public. Nevertheless, it makes for a beautiful photo opportunity and a perfect spot for a relaxing first break.

There's always a bit of industrial heritage around, somehow.

Besides the busy railway line to Münster, we continue north. The view of the headframe of shaft 6 at the Radbod colliery hardly suggests that for a time the future of hard coal mining in the Ruhr region was within reach here.

Under the project name Donar, the extraction of the existing coking coal was supposed to begin in 2015. However, no investor could be found, so this mining project was also ultimately abandoned and the shafts filled in.

Venne House and Drensteinfurt

A little further north, Pascal and I reached Venne House. The old moated castle was first documented in the 13th century.

But here too, after a mandatory photo stop, we can quickly continue cycling. In the historic center of Drensteinfurt, we see the moated castle Haus Steinfurt as well as some very charming half-timbered buildings.

In the market square of Drensteinfurt, we are surprised by an unusual combination of e-bike charging station and public book box, in addition to a typical maypole.

The Werse Cycle Path

As with our first trip to the Warendorf district, we can now cycle a section of the Werse Cycle Path. Here, the Werse is noticeably larger than in the section east of Ahlen. As a drainage ditch, it cuts through the wide fields of the Münsterland region in a canal-like fashion.

After the heavy rain of the last few days, the Werse River is running a bit high, so unfortunately our short trip to a small island just before Albersloh had to be cancelled. Perhaps you'll have better luck cycling there and can take a closer look at this little Shire paradise.

In Albersloh, a genuine Kiepenkerl (peddler) greets us as a nice photo opportunity, before we cycle through the small village and finally cycle eastwards on the 100 Castles Route out into the countryside.

Typical of the Münsterland region, we see red brick farmhouses surrounded by wide fields and cycle along the various types of farm tracks, mostly on asphalt, but sometimes on gravel. At frequent junctions, there are wayside crosses, some more elaborate than others, which are typical of this region.

Two (ice)birds looking for a place to rest.

The next stop is Sendenhorst. An idyllic village center with narrow lanes and, of course, another attraction on the 100 Castles Route – Haus Siekmann. This listed farmstead is now a cultural center for the region.

Pascal and I were quickly drawn to the popular ice cream parlor "Eisvogel," which, in addition to its homemade classics, also offers unusual flavors like "Turmeric," "Cucumber," or even, perfectly timed for the season, "Strawberry-Asparagus." Yes, we'd certainly earned this treat!

A heaven for a tower

Shortly after Sendenhorst, we come across the Himmelreichturm (Heavenly Kingdom Tower). What initially sounds rather spiritual is simply a nice viewpoint, erected with great dedication by the local scouts. I find the idea of ​​building their own little tower here quite impressive.

We continue across the fields, following the well-signposted junction system. In the middle of the forest, we are surprised by a small, one-man bunker from World War II. We are familiar with such relics from the Ruhr area, for example at the popular ore railway route.

Hof Schulze-Rötering grain distillery

A few more pedal strokes and we reach the culinary highlight of the bike tour. The Schulze-Rötering farm is known for its grain distillery and attached farm shop.

Here you can find fresh asparagus and strawberries, homemade jam and fragrant herbal teas.

And of course, you can sample the delicious spirits from the distillery here. The classic is naturally the Korn (a type of German grain spirit), optionally aged in various casks (whether red wine, whiskey, or rum). But sweeter liqueurs are also on display – all, of course, produced in-house and crafted with extra attention to detail.

Of course, I can't leave this gourmet paradise without a quick taste. And a small bottle goes into the saddlebag for home. On some days, the actual distillery can be visited in addition to the farm shop. Lovers of vintage tractors can explore the surrounding area on guided tractor tours.

Ahlen and the last few meters

After a few stretches along country lanes, we cycle through the center of Ahlen before heading back to Hamm for the final leg. If you haven't yet visited the fascinating Ahlen coal mine, a short detour is definitely worthwhile. We pass a small farm shop with 24-hour service before arriving back at the Lippe River near Oberwerries Castle.

Pascal and I leisurely roll through the Lippe meadows. At the R-Café right by the Datteln-Hamm Canal We'll end the tour with a fruity drink before taking the regional express train back home.

My conclusion

Unlike the tour two years ago, this route has noticeably fewer sights, but focuses more on the agricultural region. Here you'll experience pure rural life on a long and therefore more sporty drive. With a nimble gravel bike I can easily imagine this tour as a sporty day trip. Combined with the farm shops and fresh produce, it quickly transforms into a delightful culinary excursion. So, if you simply need to escape the city and experience authentic rural life, this day trip is perfect for you. So, hop on your bike and enjoy the ride!