Forest, prehistoric tombs and a lake reveal different sides of Ankum. The forest nature trail in Kunkheide introduces you to forest-related topics, while the circular trail near Westerholte leads to tombs dating back thousands of years. At Lake Ankum, the path around the recreational area and several leisure facilities take centre stage. These differences can help you decide which discoveries you would like to combine during your stay in Ankum.
Forest and Water in Ankum
The forest nature trail in Kunkheide is located on Schillerberg, southwest of Ankum. It is about three kilometres long and has eleven information boards. They cover the functions of forests, the water cycle in the forest, forest habitats and sustainable forest management. The trail combines exercise with topics that explain the forest from several perspectives. The municipality continues to maintain the trail, and there are also several benches along the way.
Lake Ankum offers another way to spend time outdoors. A footpath runs around the recreational area by the lake, where there is also a large adventure playground. The leisure area includes an outdoor Kneipp facility. Work on it was completed and signed off on 21 September 2026. In September 2026, a wedding island was also created outdoors on Lake Ankum and designated as such. The activities described at the lake therefore range from a stroll around the recreational area to these special facilities.
Megalithic Tombs and Trails near Westerholte
In Ankum’s Westerholte district, a prehistoric circular trail passes six megalithic tombs, various burial mounds and a particularly remarkable stone cist grave. The megalithic tombs are over 4,000 years old. The Giersfeld Megalithic Trail is part of the Megalithic Culture Route (SMK); the circular trail lies south of Ankum, near Westerholte. The combination of the trail and archaeological sites makes this a different kind of discovery from the forest nature trail, which explains its themes: here, the focus is on prehistoric grave types and the long periods of time they span.
From the Ringfort to the Local Heritage House
The town’s history also reflects different periods. The old ringfort on Vogelberg was an Old Saxon refuge and community fortress. A baptismal church was built within the ringfort after the year 800. The former farmer-citizen’s house, built in 1789, was converted into the local heritage house in 1986/87. These landmarks span the early fortification and church construction through to the former farmer-citizen’s house and its later conversion into a local heritage house. They help distinguish Ankum’s historical themes without reducing them to a single period.
Plan More Discoveries
The Ankum branch of the Bersenbrück Joint Municipality Tourist Information Office offers inspiration for cycling tours through the parkland of the Artland region, tips on cultural attractions and recommendations for walks. Its advice covers Ankum as well as the joint municipality and the Osnabrück region. If you would like to broaden the scope of your stay, the wider destination of Osnabrück offers further ideas of a different kind. At the Bad Essen-Barkhausen dinosaur trackways, two dinosaur replicas, detailed information boards and a circular trail are part of the visitor experience. At the Tuchmacher Museum Bramsche, fluffy wool blankets are made on working machines that are over 100 years old. These examples offer a different focus from Ankum’s forests, lake and burial sites: one combines information with a trail, while the other showcases traditional textile production. When choosing where to stay in Ankum, you can therefore start by considering which of these local themes you would like to shape your stay.
Discover more destinations: Hagen Am Teutoburger Wald, Bramsche, Ostercappeln, BersenbrĂĽck, Atter, Dissen Am Teutoburger Wald, Gehrde, Rieste
View the broader travel overview: OsnabrĂĽck.
