Oerlinghausen between the Senne, hiking trails and culture

Oerlinghausen combines trails through forests and heathland with distinctive landmarks and cultural history. You can choose a short loop along the Tweten, plan longer hikes or round out your trip with a visit to St. Alexander’s Church and the Climate Experience World. Which of these sides of the town interests you most may also influence your choice of accommodation.

Hikes between the forest and the Senne

In Oerlinghausen, 120 kilometres of signposted hiking trails wind through deciduous and mixed forests and the Senne heathland. For a shorter outing, try the 2.15-kilometre circular route along the Tweten. The 26 Tweten are marked with blue signs and can be explored on foot. These two figures represent different hiking plans: a manageable loop or an extensive network of trails. Check trail conditions before setting out.

If you have longer distances in mind, you can include the Hermannsweg, which runs through Oerlinghausen and allows you to hike towards Detmold or Bielefeld. In the Wistinghauser Senne, you can watch Scottish Highland cattle and Exmoor ponies grazing. Several hiking trails pass their enclosures and pastures; access may vary by season.

Landmarks and culture

The Kumsttonne is the stump of a windmill dating from 1753. In good weather, it offers distant views and serves as a starting point for walks and longer hikes. This makes it possible to combine a viewpoint with a route through the surrounding area, without committing to a particular hike length.

St. Alexander’s Church is also worth a closer look: it probably dates back to the 9th century and preserves elements of a Romanesque basilica. Choir and orchestral concerts are held there regularly. If a concert is important to your plans, check the current programme.

The Climate Experience World offers another way to explore nature and the environment. Multimedia exhibitions, simulations and interactive stations present topics relating to climate change, weather and nature. Sightseeing flights in gliders, motor gliders and powered aircraft are also available at the Oerlinghausen Air Sports Centre. Flight operations depend on the weather and the operator’s conditions.

Oerlinghausen as a base

Oerlinghausen is a starting point for trips around East Westphalia-Lippe, with destinations such as the Hermannsdenkmal, the Externsteine or Sparrenburg Castle. The Lippe travel region has a hiking network of around 2,000 kilometres. It includes a section of European long-distance path E1, as well as the award-winning Hermannshöhen and Hansaweg trails. These regional trails and destinations complement the hiking and cultural experiences in Oerlinghausen; they are separate options for excursions in Lippe.

For those travelling by car, the A2 and A33 motorways are nearby, each only a few kilometres from Oerlinghausen. Regional trains from Bielefeld run hourly to Oerlinghausen station in Leopoldshöhe-Asemissen. From there, a connecting bus takes travellers on to the town. As timetables can change, it is a good idea to check the current connections before travelling.

When choosing accommodation, you can consider which experiences you want to focus on: hiking trails and the Senne, the Tweten and the Kumsttonne, or culture and concerts. A trip to the wider region can also be part of your plans. This lets you tailor your stay to the day trips you want to take, rather than trying to fit every option into a fixed itinerary.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Extertal, Schlangen, Horn-Bad Meinberg, Lage, Detmold, Dörentrup, Kalletal, Blomberg.

Back to the main travel overview: Lippe.