Discover Kleve: Landscape and Trails
Accommodation in Kleve
A small slope in Kleve marks the transition from the Geest to the marsh. This change gives the landscape its distinctive character; cycling and hiking trails offer further ways to explore the area. If you are looking for accommodation, you can first consider whether outdoor activities or cultural and natural attractions in the wider destination of Dithmarschen will shape your stay.
Landscape, the Eider and the Klev
Kleve’s settlements include Westermoor, Hehm and Nordfeld in the Eider lowlands. The Nordfeld Eider dyke was built in 1937 and continues to regulate the water level of the Middle Eider. The fossil cliff known as the Klev rises more than 30 metres above the adjacent lowlands. It is a striking landform that differs from Kleve’s gentle transition from Geest to marsh.
Just under twelve hectares of the Klev slope belong to the Klev and Donn Landscape near St. Michaelisdonn Special Area of Conservation (SAC); the Klev slope has been designated a nature reserve since 1962. Several stops along the Klev slope are included in the HISTOUR route. In Hopen, the historic Hoper Mill Edda stands on the old cliff known as the Klev.
Exploring by bike or on foot
The Klev and Donn landscape attracts hikers, cyclists and horse riders. The Eider Adventure Route continues from Kleve via Schlichting to Lunden. Check the current route and conditions before setting out on a cycling tour. For cycle tourists arriving by train, the station at St. Michaelisdonn is a starting point; plan your train connection in advance.
Two different types of walking routes are described: one leads from the draisine station to the Klev and back via Hopen. A circular route to the viewpoints at Donner Kleve also starts at the draisine station. The Bismarckstein and Spiekerberg viewpoints are on Donner Kleve. The route via Hopen leads back; the circular route takes you to the Bismarckstein and Spiekerberg viewpoints on Donner Kleve.
In the wider Dithmarschen region, the Eider and its tributaries are known as fishing spots. So, alongside cycling and hiking, fishing is another regional activity to consider.
More to discover in Dithmarschen
In the wider destination of Dithmarschen, the Dithmarschen State Museum in Meldorf offers an insight into 1,200 years of regional history—from the wealth of the farmers’ republic to rural everyday life in the 1960s. At the Dithmarschen Stone Age Park, hands-on activities include flint knapping, archery, making Stone Age jewellery, lighting fires and baking bread. Activities may vary depending on the programme.
Dithmarschen offers further points of interest for nature and coastal experiences. Along the coast, knowledgeable local guides and experts from the National Park lead guided mudflat walks; at low tide, the rich life of the Wadden Sea becomes visible. Tides and dates vary, so it is worth checking the relevant dates in advance. If you are considering longer hikes: the first stage of the North-Baltic Sea Hiking Trail runs through Dithmarschen and is just under 40 kilometres long. The long-distance hiking trail as a whole comprises five stages and runs from Meldorf to Kiel.
Local food and choosing accommodation
The Dithmarscher Hof in Kleve is listed as an inn serving German and regional cuisine. If you plan to stop there, check in advance whether it is open. This adds a culinary stop to your landscape and route planning without limiting your stay to a single activity.
These interests lead to different day plans. Tailor your search to the things that matter for your stay.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: StrĂĽbbel, Weddingstedt, Dellstedt, SarzbĂĽttel, Trennewurth, Schalkholz, Busenwurth, Wesselburen.
Back to the overview of the wider destination: Dithmarschen.
