Sauer­land Cycle Cir­cuit

Cyc­ling on dis­used rail­way lines through the “Land of 1000 Moun­tains”. A wealth of at­trac­tions await act­ive cyc­lists on this cir­cu­lar route.

The Sauerland Cycle Circuit takes a route through the heart of the Sauerland region. This 84 kilometre-long circuit, which follows disused railway lines, links many towns in the “Land of 1000 Mountains”: Finnentrop, Lennestadt, Schmallenberg and Eslohe lie along the way, together with other traditional half-timbered villages, which invite visitors to take a break or even stay the night. Until 1966 this route, where cyclists can now relax and enjoy a traffic-free ride, was used by trains on the busy Wennemen-Finnentrop line.

The Sauerland Cycle Circuit offers cyclists an insight into the route’s railway past: the stretch still includes signals, buffers, carriages and a restored steam engine. A visit to the DampfLandLeute museum in Eslohe allows cyclists to immerse themselves even deeper in the history of the Sauerland Cycle Circuit.

There are many other highlights along the way, such as the picturesque Hennesee reservoir – a good place for tired cyclists to take a break. For young families there is the Holzerlebnisparcours Schmallenberg, a wood adventure trail, and Galileo-Park, an interactive science park with puzzles. Cyclists can enjoy the experience of using the Bat Tunnel in Finnentrop during the summer; it is closed in winter so that the bats can hibernate.

The Sauerland Cycle Circuit is not without its ascents: there is a total vertical distance of around 600 metres to be conquered. Truly fit touring cyclists will be able to manage it in a day, and anyone wanting an easier ride can plan an overnight stop. The latter option is particularly recommended if cyclists wish to include the 40-kilometre Northern Circuit, which was opened in 2012 to link the Sauerland Cycle Circuit and the Ruhr Valley Cycle Path.

Further information:

DampfLandLeute Museum
Wednesday to Saturday: 14:00 – 17:00
Sunday (from 1 November to 31 March): 10:00 – 13:00
Sunday (from 1 April to 31 October): 10:00 – 16:00

Galileo-Park
Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 to 17:00

Bat Tunnel in Finnentrop: open from April to October