Family-friendly routes ensure funCycling with children

A leisurely cycle through the mountains? It's child's play on former railway lines: they have hardly any gradients, rarely have any crossings and are usually far away from roads - making them ideal for family cycle tours.

No inclines through the Bergisches Land
Bridges, viaducts and tunnels ensure that cycle tours in the Bergisches Land are pleasantly varied. With a total length of 40 to 50 kilometres, the Niederbergbahn panoramic cycle path between Essen and Wuppertal and the Balkan route between Wuppertal and Leverkusen are also easy to master with children. The time tunnel in Wülfrath, which is located directly on the Niederbergbahn panoramic cycle path and simulates a journey through 400 million years of the earth's history, is well worth a stopover. Extra service from April to November: on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, the Bergische FahrradBus offers the option of travelling there or back, or even part of the way, by bus along the Balkantrasse panoramic cycle path.

Dam wall and bat tunnel
The Sauerland Cycle Ring also takes you from place to place without breaking a sweat. Where steam locomotives once snorted between Siegerland and Sauerland, cyclists now make effortless progress. The highlight of the route is the 700 metre long bat tunnel near Kückelheim in Frettertal, where a wide variety of nocturnal animals have been spotted, such as the bearded bat, the greater mouse-eared bat and the brown long-eared bat. There is a short version of around 50 kilometres in length especially for families, which leads through the most beautiful villages in the Schmallenberger Sauerland, as well as tips for particularly child-friendly sections of the overall route, which is around 80 kilometres long.

After a tour on the Möhne Valley cycle path, which connects Brilon and Arnsberg on old railway lines, active cyclists can take a dip. A refreshing dip in the Möhne reservoir is an absolute must after a cycle tour, and not just for families. The imposing dam wall offers a fantastic view over the lake.

Charlemagne for children
The Vennbahn cycle route takes you through three countries - Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg - from Aachen to Troisvierges in Luxembourg. Along the way, you can read stories about Charlemagne, fire and steam as well as coffee smuggling at the border, all presented in a child-friendly way.

Rivers have been carving their way through the landscape for thousands of years - and along their banks they provide plenty of low-gradient cycling fun, peppered with an exciting mix of nature, culture and history. The Ruhr Valley Cycle Path, which runs for a total of 230 kilometres from the source of the Ruhr near Winterberg to where it flows into the Rhine near Duisburg, is one of the most popular river cycle paths in Germany thanks to its wealth of experiences. You can also take a break from pedalling: along the way, you can combine the route with a canoe, passenger boat or rail bus. Families often opt for shorter sections, such as from Lake Kemnader in Bochum to Lake Baldeney in Essen.

Cycling and swimming
For the Sieg cycle route, there are special stage suggestions that appeal to children: The twelve to 30 kilometre routes include stations that promise extra fun, such as playgrounds, basketball courts, swimming opportunities, adventure trails with hands-on stations or the only one-man ferry in Germany. A children's map provides an overview of the adventure options along the river cycle path. If you run out of steam along the way, trains from nearby stations offer alternative transport options.
https://naturregion-sieg.de/kinderradwege

Visit to
Castle Although the Lenneroute is a little uphill, it is well worth the effort, especially for families. After all, there is no way around a visit to Altena Castle, which towers high above the River Lenne and can be reached effortlessly via an adventure lift, and the Dechenhöhle cave in Iserlohn on this stretch between Winterberg and Hagen.

Dismount, park your bike and experience even more family fun? Definitely recommended! Many cycle paths offer extra adventures and exciting rest stops along the way. Once on the Roman-Lippe Route between Detmold and Xanten, you should definitely plan a longer visit to the Xanten Archaeological Park. Children and adults can experience antiquity up close here. The themed loops that complement the main route are particularly suitable for family excursions. The loops of different lengths lead past destinations such as the Bergkamen Roman Park, the Hermann Monument and the Maximilian Park in Hamm, which offers various themed playgrounds and a toddler climbing course in addition to its landmark, the walk-in glass elephant that can be seen from afar.

Sporty and fun
Families who love sporting challenges will find what they are looking for in the Sauerland: 550 metres in altitude have to be conquered on the Kinderland trekking route in Schmallenberg. Too much of a good thing? No problem, because there are also shortcuts for the 38-kilometre route, which leads past wooden adventure trails and an old slate mine, among other things: If the little bikers run out of breath along the way, the route can be shortened as desired at four intersections.
www.schmallenberger-sauerland.de

Flamingos in the wild
Cycling tours in Münsterland, more precisely in the Zwillbrocker Venn: flamingos can be observed there every year from March to July and, if breeding is successful, until September. The approximately 450-kilometre-long Flamingo Route leads through the bird paradise as well as other nature reserves and places in Germany and the Netherlands.
www.muensterland.com

Cycling across borders
National borders and eras are crossed on a tour along the Eifel-Ardennes cycle path: the approximately 36-kilometre route between Prüm and St. Vith leads through the German-Belgian border region and its eventful history. As the tour runs along a former railway line from the imperial era, there are not only contemporary witnesses from the railway era to discover, but also far-reaching views over valleys and mountain ranges without any strenuous climbs.
www.eifel.info/radfahren/radtouren-kinder