Heringhausen, Diemelsee (Hessen/NRW)

Diemelsee: Round the Lake

Distance12.8 km

Elevation gain237 m

DifficultyModerate

Estimated time4 h 48 min

Waymarked: H6 in a black rectangle

Overview

You cross the top of a 42 m dam wall in the first minutes, with the Diemelsee on one side and the basin below on the other.

After about an hour and a half you reach the free beach at Heringhausen, the place for a swim on a warm day. After it the path stays by the water most of the way round the lake. The last stretch climbs into the forest over the hill and comes back down to the shore by the dam.

Half a day at an easy pace, and a good one for families.

Points of interest

Mauer der Diemeltalsperre — Stop in the middle of the wall for the long view down the lake.
Visionarium — An optional stop in Heringhausen if it rains: a nature exhibition in the tourist-information building, with the indoor pool next door.
Heringhausen beach — The free beach at Heringhausen, with a snack bar and toilets. Optional: a swim before the path carries on round the lake.
Picnic tables — Tables by the path and the last rest before the climb over the hill.
Fährhaus — A restaurant by the water just off the path, on the last stretch back to the start.

Trail alerts

Road walking: Walk in single file and keep children close along Am See at the start, through Heringhausen on the Seestraße and Kirchstraße, and on Am Fresenberg near the finish. All of it is on roads open to cars.

Plan your day

Good for: Families and an easy summer day by the water.
What to bring: Swimming things, if you want a swim at the Heringhausen beach, about 4.4 km in.
Food and water: Snack bars and toilets at the Heringhausen and Helminghausen beaches, and the Fährhaus restaurant near the finish.

Trail character

Tarred paths and lanes for about half the way, with long gravel stretches and a little grass.
Level along the shore for most of the way, then one steady climb over the hill in the last third, steep in places.
A flight of steps on the way, not for prams.

Access & rules

Getting there: By car to the Wanderparkplatz above the dam, or by bus to the Sperrmauer stop beside the start.
Parking: About 54 cars at the Wanderparkplatz where the walk starts, and more in Heringhausen by the tourist information.
Tickets and fees: The beaches are free. The Visionarium in Heringhausen is an optional stop, 3.50 euros for adults and 2.50 for children.
Rules: Keep to the paths in the nature reserve. Dogs go on a 2 m lead by the shore, and swim at the dog beaches at Hohes Rad and Helminghausen.
Opening hours: Visionarium Monday to Friday 9:00 to 19:00, weekends 10:00 to 18:00, closed in November.
Official info: diemelsee.de. Visionarium hours and prices, and which beaches are open. Check before you travel in November.

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