Meppen – Rühlerfeld Junction
Stage 10
Forests, meadows, fields and even more water. This section of the Hünenweg in the Bourtanger Moor – Veenland international nature reserve runs across the landscape of central Ems and beyond. Some sections of this route are characterised by agriculture – while others provide a picturesque contrast with their archaic beauty; the heathered foothills of what was once the largest upland moor in Central Europe are waiting to be discovered.
Order the 2nd edition of the Hünenweg hiking guide from Conrad Stein Verlag. On 127 pages you will find detailed information about your hike from Osnabrück to Groningen.
Especially for cottongrass flowering in spring and the heather flowering in August, the dramatic moorland landscapes offer a fantastic hiking backdrop. Beyond the moors in the areas characterised by the Ems, numerous treasures await visitors to the nature reserve. Along dreamy oxbow lakes with their very specific flora and fauna, you will receive a small glimpse of the charm of Europe's rivers before they were straightened.
However, this section isn't just worthwhile for nature lovers: the point at which the Hase and Ems meet contains the district town of Emsland: Meppen – the place at the river's mouth. Anyone seeking not just a stopover in the city of the bridges, but a cultural offering as well, will be rewarded here. Not only this, the small village of Versen, which the Hünenweg runs through directly, also offers tranquil scenes and exhibits a very special charm. A short detour to the Borkener Paradies nature reserve is also worthwhile here – an ancient pastural landscape which provides anyone interested with a short journey through time into a landscape from the past.
