Störkathen and its surroundings in Aukrug Nature Park offer opportunities for hiking and horse riding. The landscape is shaped by the Stör River, extensive forests and meadows. A special natural highlight is Störkathener Heide: this 16-hectare nature reserve lies in the southeast of Aukrug Nature Park, near Kellinghusen.

Störkathener Heide: Dunes and Habitats

The heath is part of a larger inland dune area that formed after the last ice age. Within the nature reserve, dry sandy heaths alternate with wet heathland and water-filled hollows containing quaking bogs rich in peat moss. This means dry and wet habitat types occur side by side within the protected area. Störkathener Heide is part of the European Natura 2000 network. It provides suitable living conditions for rabbits, slow worms, adders and common lizards; up to 300 insect species are associated with heather.

Trails, Nature Trail and Viewpoint

The approximately 2.5-kilometre Discovery Trail forms a circular route around the nature reserve. It offers children and families twelve stations, including a barefoot trail. The forest nature trail is about 2,000 metres long and features around 80 information boards about the landscape and nature conservation work. The trails have different focuses: the Discovery Trail centres on its stations and barefoot trail, while the forest nature trail provides information about the landscape and nature conservation work. Their lengths also help you compare the two types of trail. Guided tours on the heath provide age-appropriate information about the forest ecosystem.

A viewpoint at the Liliencron Stone offers a view across the heath. There is also a memorial stone in Störkathener Heide.

Getting Your Bearings and Longer Routes

The car park for Störkathener Heide is on county road 2 in the direction of Störkathen; from Kellinghusen, you can reach it via Schützenstraße. A launch site associated with Störkathen is located beside the Fitzbek-Rothensande road bridge and provides access to the Stör.

For a longer route, the 50-kilometre Nature Park Tour follows the Stör from Kellinghusen. Its length makes it a different scale from the Discovery Trail and the forest nature trail. This allows you to choose between trails associated with the heath and a longer tour through the nature park.

Steinburg as a Wider Travel Destination

The wider travel destination of Steinburg encompasses a varied landscape stretching from the Elbe to Holsteiner Auenland. Five long-distance cycle routes run through the region, including the Elbe Cycle Route; check route conditions before setting out. Steinburg also offers cultural attractions: the Detlefsen Museum in Glückstadt presents a comprehensive picture of Glückstadt and the Holstein Elbe marshes, past and present. The Prinzeßhof District Museum in Itzehoe showcases the history and cultural history of Steinburg district in the 19th and 20th centuries.

During Steinburg’s Wild Weeks, from mid-September to the end of October, Steinburg chefs prepare dishes featuring hare, roe deer, wild boar or wild duck. Check the latest dates and participating restaurants before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Brokstedt

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