At the Timmeler Meer, a specific canoe route and other activities on the water come together with the town’s maritime history. Alongside the roughly three-hour paddling tour, you can choose a guided village walk of around two hours, hiking trails and riding lessons. If you’re looking for a hotel in Timmel, you can first decide whether water, history or outdoor activities should be the focus of your stay.
Waterways around the Timmeler Meer
The Timmeler Meer has a surface area of 25 hectares and an average depth of 9 metres. From here, boaters can travel along the Ems to the North Sea. The canoe tour from Timmel to Rorichum, which is unaffected by tides, starts at the jetty at the Paddel- und Pedal-Station Timmel and crosses the Timmeler Meer. It follows the Rorichumer Tief, covers about 13.3 kilometres and takes approximately three hours.
At the Paddel- und Pedal-Station in Timmel, you can hire single and double kayaks, as well as canoes for three, four or ten people. Rental availability may vary seasonally, so check before making plans. Another option on the water is the MS Gretje, a passenger ship on the Timmeler Meer and the Fehntjer Tief. On excursions aboard the ship, passengers can learn about the history of Großefehn and peat shipping.
The activities offer different focuses: the canoe tour centres on a specific route and its approximate duration, while excursions aboard the MS Gretje also explore the history of Großefehn and peat shipping. You can also compare two durations when planning your day: the canoe tour takes approximately three hours, while the Historical Village Walk takes about two.
Maritime School and Village Traditions
Timmel’s maritime history is closely connected to the Old Maritime School. A maritime school was founded in Timmel in 1846, and the present-day building was constructed in 1862. The Old Maritime School is a preserved maritime heritage building associated with the school founded in 1846.
The Großefehn Tourist Information Office offers a guided Historical Village Walk through Timmel, lasting around two hours. The meeting point is the village square. Dates and costs are available on request. The walk is therefore a time-defined way to discover Timmel’s local history on a guided tour.
An annual maypole celebration and the traditional Ostereierlünsen take place in the village square. During the season, baking days are also held there regularly. If you’d like to plan your stay around an event, check the dates before you travel.
The Church of St Peter and St Paul in Timmel also has a historical connection: it houses a memorial plaque for Jonas Eilers, bearing the years 1768–1778.
Hiking, Horse Riding and an Inclusive Playground
The health resorts of Timmel and Westgroßefehn have four hiking trails of varying lengths. Depending on the route, some sections can be used with a walking frame or wheelchair, or there is a signposted accessible alternative route. The routes therefore differ both in length and in the stated accessibility options.
The multi-generational park by the Timmeler Meer also features an accessible, inclusive playground for people with and without disabilities. For equestrian sports, the Reitsport-Touristik-Centrum in Timmel offers dressage and show-jumping lessons for riders of all ability levels. Private and group lessons, as well as training courses, are held regularly.
Getting to Timmel
To reach Timmel, take exit 7 on the A31, named “Neermoor / Timmel”, then follow the L914 country road for about 7 kilometres to the entrance to Timmel. Together with the approximate durations for the canoe tour and village walk, this information provides practical guidance for planning your journey and activities during your stay.
Discover more destinations: Strackholt.
Return to the main travel overview: Großefehn.
