In Stormarn, near Hamburg, a bicycle trip can follow the course of an old railway instead of a road. The BahnRadWege routes use the corridors of three closed lines, with former station buildings, goods sheds and other reminders of their railway past along the way. Woodland, lakes and north German countryside fill the spaces between those historic stops.
For a single day, the regional tourism organisation suggests a 44-kilometre loop from Bad Oldesloe. The ride begins near the town’s green spa park, follows Route B south towards Trittau and returns to the starting point. A short detour takes in Grönwohld and its historic Drahtmühle building. It is a route designed for pauses and places, as much as for covering distance.
The wider BahnRadWege network totals about 70 kilometres, so the day loop is one option rather than the whole route. Paths are partly asphalted and marked with a shared logo; information boards explain the former railway lines. Rail connections also make it easier to plan the beginning and end of a ride. Check the train timetable and conditions on the chosen section before setting out.