The best walks and hikes around Heiden

🌳 Hills and Landscape in the Hohe Mark Nature Park The gentle hills, some reaching up to seven meters in height, surrounding the Düwelsteene are part of an ancient landscape shaped by the Ice Age. During the last Ice Age, mighty glaciers advanced across this land, leaving behind terminal moraines – undulating elevations of sand, gravel, and clay – after their retreat. These formations continue to define the character of the Hohe Mark Nature Park, one of the largest contiguous forest landscapes in Westphalia. Between heathland and hills, light pine forests, small depressions, and rolling ridges alternate. They give the region its special charm and make hiking varied – with short ascents and descents, changing perspectives, and a very natural terrain profile. Of archaeological interest, many of these hills were already settled or used as landmarks in the Neolithic period – their proximity to the Düwelsteene is therefore no coincidence. Back then, paths like this one connected cult sites and settlements. Today, the Hohe Mark is a quiet place for nature lovers, hikers and history enthusiasts – a landscape that breathes history and invites you to pause and reflect.

⛽ Gas Station in Heiden – The Perfect Stop on the Cursed Stones Hike The gas station in Heiden is an ideal spot for a short break. Here you can restock your supplies, get fresh rolls, coffee, or snacks, and fuel up for the next leg of your journey. Those hiking to the Cursed Stones can recharge their batteries here – quite literally. 💡 Tip: Especially in the mornings, there's a good selection of sandwiches and hot drinks – perfect before heading back out into nature.

🏛️ Heiden – Following the Traces of Ancient Trade Routes Heiden is one of the oldest known settlements in the western Münsterland region. The first written records date back to the 9th century, when the area belonged to Werden Abbey near Essen. Even then, ancient trade and military roads connected the Ruhr region with the Lower Rhine and Friesland. In the Middle Ages, Heiden was an important transshipment point for timber, livestock, and grain, which were transported by oxcart and later by horse-drawn wagons to larger trading centers. The village benefited from its location between moorland, heath, and fertile farmland – hence the name "Heiden," derived from the Old High German "heid" (heathland). Traces of early settlement can still be found around Heiden today: burial mounds, boundary stones, and field names that point to ancient cult sites. For centuries, the region was predominantly agricultural and served as a stopover for traveling merchants and pilgrims. Today, Heiden combines nature, history and down-to-earth charm – perfect as a stopover or cultural highlight on a hike around the Römersee lake or the “Tour of the Cursed Stones”.

There is also a nice beer garden and a snack for in between meals.

Funny designed facade on the outbuildings of the Landhaus Beckmann in Heiden. Right next to it is the large and cozy beer garden.

Enjoy the sun here after lunch with a cup of coffee and a piece of cake.

Good starting point for the short hike to the Düwelsteenen, which also offers a picnic area

Easily accessible, located on the edge of the forest, with a picnic area