- Free admission
Ostinghausen Community Center Parking Lot
Parking
The parking lot at the community center in Ostinghausen (Bad Sassendorf) is the ideal starting point for a hike through the Woeste moor and nature reserve.
Address
Ostinghausen Community Center Parking Lot
Schulstraße 2b
59505 Bad Sassendorf
Properties:
Woeste Nature Trail
This approximately 5-kilometer-long loop trail leads through the small lowland bog of the Woeste, located between the confluence of the Ahse and Woestebach rivers north of Bad Sassendorf (between the districts of Bettinghausen and Ostinghausen).
It represents one of the last remaining fragments of lowland moorland in the region. The diverse mosaic of shallow-water and floodplain zones, featuring ponds, reed beds, and wet meadows, has developed into an important habitat for animals and plants—a magnet for birds in particular.
The approximately 50-hectare area is one of the last remaining calcareous fens in the region. The observation point and the observation tower provide excellent vantage points for observing birdlife and the impressive water buffalo that keep the area open.
Information signs along the trail—some designed specifically for children—provide details about the flora and fauna in the Woeste.
Route: Ostinghausen Church Square – around the Woeste Nature Reserve – Ostinghausen Community Center/Ostinghausen Church Square
Points of interest: St. Christophorus Church, Woeste Observation Tower, Beobachtungspunkt Woeste
Difficulty: Easy, family-friendly hike, though not all paths are paved
This approximately 5-kilometer-long loop trail leads through the small lowland bog of the Woeste, located between the confluence of the Ahse and Woestebach rivers north of Bad Sassendorf (between the districts of Bettinghausen and Ostinghausen).
It represents one of the last remaining fragments of lowland moorland in the region. The diverse mosaic of shallow-water and floodplain zones, featuring ponds, reed beds, and wet meadows, has developed into an important habitat for animals and plants—a magnet for birds in particular.
The approximately 50-hectare area is one of the last remaining calcareous fens in the region. The observation point and the observation tower provide excellent vantage points for observing birdlife and the impressive water buffalo that keep the area open.
Information signs along the trail—some designed specifically for children—provide details about the flora and fauna in the Woeste.
Route: Ostinghausen Church Square – around the Woeste Nature Reserve – Ostinghausen Community Center/Ostinghausen Church Square
Points of interest: St. Christophorus Church, Woeste Observation Tower, Beobachtungspunkt Woeste
Difficulty: Easy, family-friendly hike, though not all paths are paved
