Areas of heath in the Nature Park
Apart from the connected areas of heath in the Nature Reserve, there are many other areas that are well worth exploring. We would like to give you a small oversight on this side, and introduce a few of the areas.
Ask at your local Naturepark-Information Center for tips and information to areas of heath in your region.
Areas of Heath around Schneverdingen
Apart from the Heath in the Nature Reserve there are further area of Heath round about Schneverdingen. Special mention has to be made of the Höpen:
Höpen
Directly north of the town Schneverdingen, in the adjacent environmentally protected area Höpen, one finds one of the biggest and most beautiful areas of Heath, made accessible by a crisscross of paths and bicycle paths, for those seeking relaxation. You can see the distant Wilseder Berg from many vantage points on the Höpen Berg. There is quite an amount of attractive guest houses to be found on the periphery. On the last weekend in august, the annual crowning of the Heather Queen takes place on the open air stage. Just a few steps further on one can see the so called „lower sheep pens“,where the Schnucken herds move into at the beginning of April.
Areas of Heath around Handeloh
Special mention goes to the „Büsenbachtal“ around Handeloh
Büsenbachtal
The Büsenbachtal is an insider tip. It lies northeast from Handeloh, and is one of the most attractive areas of nature, and the most relaxing in the northern part of the Nature park. It encompasses about 50 hectares. It's dominated by gently rising valley, overgrown with old Sandheather and Juniper.The Büsen stream flows through the Büsen valley. The nutritionally poor, flowing water is fed from a moor spring. A peculiar phenomena is the sinkhole (dolina) into which the water disappears underground and resurfaces further up on its course.
Areas of Heath in Nature Reserves
The largest connected area of Heath in central Europe is found in the Nature Reserve. The best known Heaths are surely to be found here. Following is a selection of the most interesting ones.
Auf dem Töps
About 2km from the center of the town Hanstedt you will find the elevated Heath „On the Töps“.Situated some 109 m above sea level, it offers a magnificent panorama stretching as far as Hamburg. One can also see sheep pens and „Bienenzäune“ special bee enclosures.
Osterheide
In the last few years one has once again begun to enjoy the Heath around Schneverdingen. The so called Red Areas, in which British and Canadian soldiers held their manoeuvres, over the last 50 years, have been turned over to nature once again. In 1994 under the patronage of the Society for the Naturschutzpark e.V. (VNP) and a unit of British pioneers, experts began with the expansive measures for restoring its natural condition and cultivating it. In 1996 a new network of pathways was completed. Dispersed moors, MAGERRASEN, open sandy areas and havens of woods have made the once devastated area attractive again for locals and tourists. The Osterheide is easy accessible from the road that goes from Schneverdingen to Heber, parking lots are also available.
Steingrund (Stoneyground)
The Steingrund is connected directly to the Totengrund. It gets its name from the fact that there are so many monoliths lying here. The view of the heather and the Juniper is also quite impressive from here
Totengrund
The Totengrund, a Heath valley which lies between Wilsede, Sellhorn and Behringen, could be regarded as being the seed of the German nature preservation. As far back as 1906 Pastor Bode claimed this area for the preservation of the environment. This area of Heath was among the most beautiful in the whole of the Lüneburger Heide. It is not permitted to enter the Totengrund itself. However paths along the top edge of it allow for a magnificent view. The Totengrund can be reached by horse drawn coach from Oberhaverbeck, Niederhaverbeck, Undeloh, Döhle, or Sudermühlen, or on foot or by bicycle.
Wilseder Berg
The Wilseder Berg is one of the most popular excursion destinations in the Lüneburger Heide. At the same time it is with its 169.2m the highest elevation in the North German plain. The history of the nature preservation in the Lüneburger Heide started here as well as in the Totengrund. From Wilseder Berg one looks over vast areas of the Heath. On clear days you can see as far as Lüneburg or Hamburg. You can get to the Wilseder Berg from Oberhaverbeck, Niederhaverbeck, Undeloh, Döhle and Sudermühlen by horse drawn carriage, on foot or with the bicycle.
Areas of Heath around Amelinghausen
In the last years in the collective municipality of Amelinghausen it has been possible to successfully plant areas of heather, which are suitable for going for walks in. These areas can be reached from the city of Lüneburg within 30 min. with the car.
Kronsbergheide
The small Kronsbergheide lies northeast of Amelinghausen, not far from the Lopausee. The parking lot for Kronsberg-Heide is directly on the B 209, just before the village of Amelinghausen when you're coming from the direction of Lüneburg. The Kronsbergheide is itself too small for a really good walkout, but combined with the Lopausee is optimal. The choosing of the Queen of the Heather (Heidekönig) for Amelinghausen takes place annually on the Kronsberg every 2nd last Sunday in August.
The paradise of Marxener
Just past „Marxen am Berge“a parish in Oldendorfer,going in the direction of Drögennindorf, there's a small sign pointing out the parking lot for Marxener Paradies. It's only a short distance then on foot to get to the Heath. In a deep valley the typical biotope of the lüneburger Heide entices you to a short walk around. This walk takes you through woodlands and a picturesque landscape of pools. The Marxener paradise does it's name justice, and is a real insider tip.
Rehrhofer Heide
The Rehrhofer Heide is easy accessible with the car. Between Amelinghausen and Bispingen, direct on the B209 is the parking lot, and is an excellent starting point to explore the Wacholder Heide.
Schwindebecker Heide
The Schwindebecker Heide is east of the heath village of Schwindebeck(a parish of Soderstorf). A visit to the Schwindebecker Heide should be combined with a visit to the Schwinde spring which is the second largest spring in Niedersachsen(Lower Saxony).
