Wickede (Ruhr): River Trails and Discoveries

Wickede (Ruhr) is best explored along its riverside trails and through its districts. There are cycling routes with different itineraries to choose from; on foot, options range from a 10 km section to a 26.5 km circular hiking trail. Along the Ruhr, outdoor activities and scenery come together on the Art and Poetry Trail.

Cycling routes between the Ruhr and the districts

A cycling tour of around 26 km leads from Wickede via Gut Scheda, Schlückingen, Waltringen and Echthausen back to Wickede; it includes climbs. In Wickede, the route heads west along the cycling and walking path by the Ruhr. Views of the river and the Art and Poetry Trail invite you to stop along the way. After the railway bridge, the cycle path runs between the Ruhr and a small canal, then turns right onto the Ruhr Promenade. To the south, stretches of water and riverside scenery offer places to rest.

A 29.8 km circular cycling tour starts in the centre of Wickede, passes through Wiehagen, Schlückingen, Echthausen and Wimbern, and partly follows the Ruhr Valley Cycle Route. The Strullbach also features on a described route: the cycling tour “Around and Through the Municipality of Wickede” passes through a protected landscape area there in the direction of Wiehagen. The route allows you to distinguish between a circuit starting in the town centre and routes with a stronger focus on the river or landscape.

Hiking on RundWickede

The “RundWickede” circular hiking trail is 26.5 km long, or 27 km with a detour to the Marienbuche. It climbs repeatedly, crosses the Ruhr Valley twice and has only moderate gradients. Shortly before the weir at the Echthausen waterworks, the trail passes Wickede’s outdoor swimming pool. A shorter option is the well-signposted 10 km section that starts in Echthausen: it offers a view of the airfield’s runway before continuing through the Echthausen Forest. The different route lengths give you a concrete reference point for planning your day without treating the routes as equivalent.

Districts and cultural highlights

In the municipality of Wickede (Ruhr), 27 km of signposted hiking trails showcase the scenic attractions of its five districts: Wickede, Echthausen, Wimbern, Wiehagen and Schlückingen. These include the Art and Poetry Trail along the banks of the Ruhr. Echthausen is home to the former manor house, a lovingly restored historic monument in private ownership. In Schlückingen, a chapel lovingly restored by local residents stands as a reminder of the community’s commitment.

For travel by bus, RLG route R46 connects Neheim with Wickede (Ruhr); the Talstraße stop is listed for Echthausen. Check current route and stop information before travelling, as timetables and route details may change.

Culture and scenery in Soest

In Soest, the Osthofentor Museum provides an overview of more than 1,000 years of the city’s history and its topographical development through information panels, large-format texts, photographs, graphics and a city model. The Burghof Museum focuses on the city’s and church’s history; its subjects include engravings by Heinrich Aldegrever (1502 to around 1555) and the exhibition “Everyday Life in the Middle Ages”. The Soest Feud is a medieval festival held in Soest every two years, bringing together more than 900 participants from 12 European nations. Check the dates and programme before travelling to this event.

The landscape of the Soest district also provides a distinctive setting for planning a trip: river floodplains, the fields and meadows of the Soest Börde, extensive forests, villages and historic towns all shape the visitor region. The largest contiguous woodland in North Rhine-Westphalia lies in the Arnsberg Forest Nature Park in the southern part of the Soest district.

Discover more destinations: Vellinghausen, Lippstadt, Warstein, Ense, Möhnesee, Geseke, Erwitte, Welver.

Back to the main travel overview: Soest.