The best hikes from bus stations in Naturpark Elm-Lappwald

Surrounded by dense forest, the body of water invites you to a relaxing break and offers a beautiful opportunity to enjoy the quiet atmosphere of the surroundings. Especially on warm days, the lake is refreshing and a worthwhile detour.

This quiet forest path in the Elm-Lappwald Nature Park leads through varied mixed forests and offers an ideal opportunity to escape everyday life for a while. Away from heavily frequented routes, you can enjoy nature in its original form here – accompanied by the rustling of leaves and the chirping of birds.

🌿 Forest sea on your doorstep: Switch off in the Elm The Elm is the largest beech forest area in Northern Germany and a true paradise for anyone seeking tranquility. Especially in spring, when the young green of the beech trees glows, or in the autumnal sea of colors, the atmosphere here is almost magical. The gentle ups and downs of the trails make the nature park ideal for relaxed walks, without needing alpine fitness. In addition, the Elm offers fascinating geology with plenty of limestone and exciting fossil finds. My tip: Pay attention to the many hidden details along the wayside – from old quarries to springs like the Reitlingsquelle. For a longer break, the gastronomy in the Reitlingstal valley is ideal, where you can stop for refreshments right in the middle of the forest. Perfect for letting your soul dangle!

Warberg Castle is situated in a very attractive landscape on the northern slope of the Elmes River. After the destruction of the first motte-and-bailey castle in 1199, the complex was probably replaced in the 13th century by a fortified moated castle on an artificially created hill in the valley. In a war waged by Duke Magnus the Elder of Brunswick in 1347 against Archbishop Otto of Magdeburg, the noblemen Gebhard and Burchard von Warberg fought as leaders of the duke, who was defeated that same year. As a result of these military events, Warberg Castle was severely damaged in 1356 but was subsequently restored. In 1552, Christoph von Warberg converted the castle into an impressive Renaissance palace, which is documented in a Merian engraving from 1654. The very beautiful and well-preserved niche portal on the side facing the courtyard dates from this period. The addition of a storey to the old upper castle building resulted in such an increase in load that the foundations could not adequately withstand the pressure, and the two upper floors had to be demolished. At the beginning of the 16th century, during the Thirty Years' War, the noble von Warberg family began to decline. The castle was gradually demolished except for the ground floor walls. A temporary roof, probably dating from the 19th century, made it possible to preserve the remaining structure, which from then on served to manage the domain. The present castle complex is divided into a renovated lower castle, used by the Bundeslehranstalt Burg Warberg e.V. as a seminar hotel, and the now also renovated upper castle, which was reopened to the public on April 25, 2004. The German Foundation for Monument Protection was involved in the renovation of Warberg Castle in 2000 and 2001.

Park here if you want to explore the Elm Lappwald, there are enough parking spaces and it is completely free.

Here on the Fabiusweg along the Lutter, the Kutscherloch is a nice place to take a short break and listen to the water 💦!

Above there is a great rest area

You can have a nice rest