In Brinkum, you can choose to focus on hiking, a bike ride or a stop with a local history connection. The third stage of the Watten Route passes Brinkum and Holtland on foot. A path through the hedge-bank landscape around Brinkum leads to the cable ferry and is suitable for a bike ride. At the rest area by the old railway station, there are several places to sit and an information board with photos about the history of the former station.
Hiking on the Watten Route
The third stage of the Watten Route runs from Leer to Hesel. On foot, it passes Brinkum and Holtland. This makes the route a concrete starting point for anyone who would like to explore the village on foot. If you plan to include this stage in your stay, check current route conditions before setting out.
Brinkum features on the stage route along with Holtland, while the path to the cable ferry offers a different way to enjoy the outdoors: it leads through the hedge-bank landscape around Brinkum and is suitable for a bike ride. When planning, you can choose between hiking the route and cycling through the landscape, without combining the two activities into a single path.
Local history at the old railway station
Several places to sit are available at the rest area by the old railway station. An information board displays photos and provides information about the history of the former station. This combines a break with a glimpse into the site's former use. The board tells the story of the railway station; this is a different kind of historical connection from the archaeological finds on Liddenweg.
Archaeological excavations on Liddenweg uncovered the remains of an early medieval settlement that existed around 1000 AD. This find points to a much earlier period than the history of the former railway station. Together, the two topics offer different historical points of reference for Brinkum: the settlement dating to around 1000 and the later history of the railway station, presented through photos at the rest area.
A look at the nearby area
Hesel lies nearby, about five kilometres southwest of Brinkum. In the centre of Hesel, the more than 80-year-old Villa Popken houses the Tourist Information Office and serves as a meeting place for young and old. Hesel thus adds another place to visit nearby to Brinkum's local and landscape-related themes. These different focal points can help you decide whether to centre your stay mainly on the paths around Brinkum or also include a place in the nearby area.
More to explore in the wider destination of Leer
The wider destination of Leer offers other themes to consider when planning your trip. Public guided tours of Leer last an hour and a half and include, among other places, the old town hall, the historic weigh house and Haus Samson. The Amsterdam gabled house has adorned Leer’s old town since 1643. Check the tour dates in advance if you plan to join this walk.
Evenburg Castle in Leer is a cultural monument of regional significance and comprises the castle, park and outer bailey. Since May 2014, it has been open with a permanent exhibition about the life and livelihood of an aristocratic family in the 19th century, and as a centre for garden culture. For a different kind of outdoor experience, the Westerhammrich recreation area in the northwest of Leer covers about one square kilometre, with a lake of around 15 hectares at its centre. There are walking and cycling paths, places to spend time and observation points. These attractions are part of the wider destination of Leer, not Brinkum itself.
Discover more destinations: Moormerland, Holtland, Weener, Filsum, Detern, Bunde, Uplengen, Hesel
Return to the wider travel overview: Leer.
