A nature outing to Hartshoper Moor and Sophienhamm’s local history offer different points of interest. This gives you two themes to consider when planning your trip: the moor’s natural environment and its varied habitats, and the area’s historical settlement. The nature theme also has a notable seasonal aspect, while the local history can be explored through specific dates and farmstead figures.
Hartshoper Moor: Habitats and Wildlife
Hartshoper Moor has NATURA 2000 protection status and is a nature conservation area associated with Sophienhamm. Its habitats include raised bog, wet heathland, bog woodland, transitional mires and wet grassland. Rare bog lilies, cotton grasses and sphagnum mosses grow in the restored moor.
Snipe, red-backed shrikes, dragonflies and moor frogs are found in Hartshoper Moor. There is a seasonal highlight involving male moor frogs: between late March and late April, they turn blue for a few days. If you are particularly interested in this natural phenomenon, you can plan your trip around this time window; the other habitats and plants offer further natural points of interest.
Circular Trail, Rest Stops and Guided Walks
An approximately six-kilometre circular trail runs through Hartshoper Moor, with optional detours along areas being rewetted. When planning, you can choose between the circular route and additional sections of trail. There are picnic areas at the viewpoints, and benches and tables are available at some locations.
Guided walks through Hartshoper Moor are available; check current availability before your trip. Cycling is permitted on the walking trails. As trail conditions and local restrictions may change, check the latest conditions before setting out on a walk or cycle ride.
The Hohner See foundation land is directly accessible north of the moor via a walking trail. Dellstedter Birkwildmoor foundation land lies south of Hartshoper Moor. If you plan to include the route towards Hohner See, check the current trail connection locally.
Sophienhamm as a Settler Village
Sophienhamm was founded in 1762 as the fifteenth in a series of settler villages in the region. Later, there were 23 settler farmsteads, occupied by 22 farmers and one teacher and their families. The founding year and number of farmsteads offer two specific points of reference for the village’s settlement history.
For about 200 years, residents lived mainly from farming and livestock breeding; some households supplemented their income by selling peat. Farming and livestock breeding were therefore the main means of livelihood, while peat sales provided an additional source of income for some households. The area is also associated with the historic local name Oha.
For orientation, Sophienhamm is located on the B202 between Rendsburg and St. Peter-Ording.
Rendsburg-Eckernförde as a Wider Area
Looking at the wider travel destination of Rendsburg-Eckernförde, the focus is on the district as a whole: it is home to four nature parks, which consist to a significant extent of nature and landscape conservation areas and provide habitats for a diverse range of animal and plant life. The district also has a signposted cycle route network extending 1,000 kilometres. The 180-kilometre Nature Park Hiking Trail runs through the district’s four nature parks.
Discover more destinations: Hohn, Prinzenmoor.
Back to the main travel overview: Hohner Harde.
