The Leher Pünte and the hiking and walking routes offer two specific points of interest for a stay in Lehe: a rope ferry across the Ems and signposted trails through a variety of landscapes. There is also Struven Hus, with its holiday apartments and children's area, and the Leher Püntenpatent, which offers activities for families. This makes it possible to get to know the area through its ferry tradition, trails and available accommodation options.
Leher Pünte and trails around Lehe
The Leher Pünte is the only rope ferry on the navigable Ems and is located between the Herbrum and Bollingerfähr locks. Volunteer ferrymen carry pedestrians and cyclists across the river. The Leher-Pünte-Verein was founded in 2003 to revive an old ferry tradition. Since ferry services follow seasonal schedules, check operating times before your trip.
Three Lehe hiking and walking routes, completed in 2011, run in the immediate vicinity of the Pünte. They are signposted and range from 2.2 to 11.9 kilometres. This lets you take your preferred route length into account when planning. The trails pass through wet meadows, ponds, pastures, hedgerows, forests and heathland. Eleven habitat panels explain the landscape and local flora and fauna, adding information about the habitats along the way.
The Leher Püntenpatent also offers a way to take part in local activities, including Emsratten schlagen, ring throwing and fishing as family entertainment. The specific arrangements may depend on local agreements. If you plan to take part in these activities, bear this condition in mind when planning your trip.
Holiday apartments and family-oriented amenities
Struven Hus has four family-friendly holiday apartments in a former farm barn. Each is approximately 80 square metres; accessibility is taken into account. The house has a children's area with drawing boards and other child-friendly play options.
Visitors can view historic agricultural machinery and equipment on the grounds. Access may depend on the accommodation arrangements, so this feature cannot be planned independently of the conditions of each stay.
Lehe and the wider Emsland destination
The wider Emsland destination has more than 1,400 kilometres of cycling paths and 1,100 kilometres of bridleways, as well as opportunities for hiking and Nordic walking. For a broader regional itinerary, the Emsland Route is a standalone option: this 395-kilometre circular route passes through five landscapes—Nördliches Emstal, Hümmling, Bourtanger Moor, Hasetal and Südliches Emsland. The route is very well signposted, mostly flat, paved and traffic-free. It is particularly suitable for beginners and families with children. In total, it connects 19 towns; any of the Emsland towns along the route can serve as starting and finishing points.
In the northeast of Emsland district, Hümmling Nature Park covers around 580 square kilometres. Cycling and hiking trails with information stations pass historic sites, megalithic tombs and Clemenswerth Castle. The Theikenmeer loop is one of the nature park trails that meets the quality criteria of the German Hiking Association. Another regional trail option is the Kranichpfad: it runs for about 2.5 kilometres into Theikenmeer Nature Reserve; the return journey follows the same route, making the total walking distance approximately five kilometres. An observation platform offers panoramic views of the lake and the Wehmer Dose moorland; there is also an observation hut on the lakeshore.
Discover more destinations: Düthe, Lünne, Surwold, Herzlake, Rhede, Emsbüren, Freren, Bawinkel.
Back to the main travel overview: Emsland.
