Along the Ems to the North Sea coast: Ems Cycle Route

A premium route awarded four stars by the German Cyclists' Federation, the Ems Cycle Route follows Germany's smallest major river from its sources at the foot of the Teutoburg Forest to the North Sea coast.

Both the river and the cycle route meander through the Paderborner Land and Gütersloher Land, the first of five holiday regions covered by this route. The landscape around the upper reaches of the river is dominated by sandy dunes, pine forests and wetlands, as well as small medieval towns. Next, the route continues through the Ems riverbank meadows through the Münsterland region with its fairytale moated castles. After the sweeping stretches of moor and heathland in the southern Emsland region, things get decidedly maritime with harbours, locks and weirs. Your journey ends near Emden, where the river Ems flows into the North Sea – the final highlight on this tour along the Ems to the coast. Terrain: essentially level countryside. The paths are on asphalt most of the way and traverse two federal states, largely away from busy roads, but not always free of traffic. Scenery: the route hugs the banks of the Ems river all the way from the headwaters on the edge of the Teutoburg Forest to its North Sea estuary near Emden. Along the way it crosses five holiday regions with their heaths, moors, riverside meadows, fenland and areas of reclaimed land.

• Length: 375 kilometres
• Starts: Hövelhof
• Ends: Emden
• Route info: mainly flat terrain, easily managed with children