Wa­ter Quin­tet Cycle Path

Low-gradi­ent rail­way lines al­low cyc­lists to dis­cov­er Ber­gisches Land at a leis­urely pace. The Wa­ter Quin­tet Cycle Path re­wards cy-clists with beau­ti­ful views.

Bergisches Land is home to twelve reservoirs and lakes, making it the most concentrated reservoir region in Europe. The idyllic water landscapes draw both sport lovers and those seeking relaxation. Cyclists can discover five of these reservoirs on one cycle path.

The Wasserquintett Radweg (Water Quintet Cycle Path) links the Brucher, Lingese, Neye, Bever and Wuppertal reservoirs. The circular path covers a total of around 80 kilometres and is easy to explore over several stages. Cyclists can start from Marienheide, Hückeswagen, Radevormwald or Wipperfürth. However, Marienheide offers one distinct advantage for those who do not want to travel by car: it is the only town along the route with a train station.

Those beginning in Marienheide will quickly reach the highest point of the themed route in Dannenberg. Here, the route heads up 460 metres above sea level before returning gently back down to the source of the Wipper. From the nearby Lingese reservoir, it continues along a disused railway line from Wipperfürth to Marienheide. This section should also be relatively easy for inexperienced cyclists to handle, as the railway lines were designed to transport people and goods so could not be excessively steep.

However, even when it becomes a little more challenging, the extra effort is rewarded, as the route makes up for the exertions with wonderful hill views across large portions of Bergisches Land and its reservoirs and lakes. The route also heads through beautiful towns such as Hückeswagen, which invites visitors to stop and visit its historic old town and castle. In Marienheide, the 15th century monastery, which features a pilgrimage and monastery church, is worth a visit and cyclists can also take a detour to the oldest town in Bergisches Land, Wipperfürth.