A Walk across the Harz 2012Excellent value for moneyThis tour is not described in our brochure |
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A Walk across the Harz 2012Excellent value for moneyThis tour is not described in our brochure |
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The route starts along the romantic narrow gorge of the Bode Valley, then
you enter what was once one of Germany's main mining regions, producing silver, lead
and iron. At Schierke you enter the Harz National Park and climb the Brocken,
which has enormous spiritual importance for the German people. Then you drop down
the northern scarp of the Harz and visit the UNESCO Heritage town of Goslar
before a final stage across a classic Upper Harz landscape of forests and
lakes. While there is some overlap with the Harz Witches Trail walking tour, this is limited to the first 16 miles of the this walk. However, as this stretch of the route more than any other benefits from being walked in both directions, this presents few problems to those who are on the look out for something new. Day 1. Arrive in Thale. Day 2. Today you walk through the valley of the River Bode, both one of the most dramatic valleys as well as one of the most attractive valleys in northern Europe. Half way along you reach Treseburg, where there is a medieval castle. Much of the valley is a nature reserve, a combination of deciduous woodland and wild flowers. The day ends at the attractive village of Altenbrak (about 10 miles.) |
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Day 3. The day starts by continuing along the river to a lake. This is the Rappbode Reservoir, the lake being held by a dam almost a mile long and some 350 feet high. The route then continues over the Harmsberg and then down into Rübeland where there are two dramatic limestone caves. The day ends in the small twon of Elbingerode (about 12 miles.) Day 4. The day starts with a short bus journey (tickets are provided) to the resort of Schierke, on the flank of the Brocken. As you start your walk by climbing to the top of the Brocken, this is a fairly strenuous day. From the summit of perhaps the most famous mountain in Germany, you descend following the route taken by the poet Heinrich Heine, described by him in his Harzreise of 1826. Sadly for him, he endured both bad weather and worse wine during his stay on the Brocken. The route leads through the most attractive part of the Ilsetal valley and below the Ilsenstein crags to end in Ilsenburg (about 13 miles.) |
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Day 5. Today you walk through the valleys of the rivers Ilse and Ecker each with their lake, to the famous spa of Bad Harzburg. From here you cnue along forest roads through classic Harz woodland to the romantic Oker Valley and the hamlet of Okertal (about 13 miles.) Day 6. Head north to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Goslar. After visting the town, continue past a forest lake to Wolfshagen, the birthplace of the famous piano building family of Steinway. Continue past two beautiful lakes in the forest. From the second lake you have a choice. The shorter route is to head north to Langelsheim from where you can take the train to Seesen (about 9 miles.) Alternatively, follow European Long Distance Path 11 through forest to Seesen (about 16 miles.) |
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Tour Details: 6 nights Bed & Breakfast in hotels and inns,
in rooms with shower/WC. The minimum size for bookings is two persons.
Extra nights may be taken at the beginning or the end. Baggage transfer. Dates: This holiday is in principle available all year, but we recommend booking only from March to October. Tour Code: HUQ 2012 Tour Price: By rail from London via Brussels/Cologne - £651 2012 Tour Price: By rail from Hannover or Berlin Schönefeld Airport - £416 2012 Tour Price: No Travel Included - £364 2012 Tour Price: Single Supplement - £ 67 2012 Tour Price: Extra Night (Double Room) - £ask |
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Please check our travel page for information on other ways
of travelling to your holiday. Please contact us for prices when using one of these other routes, and also for child discounts and so on. Our telephone number is 01946 861652. |
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Before booking, please read our Booking Conditions
and read about our Booking Procedures.
(Both pages open in a new tab or window.)
When you click on the above link, a partially completed e-mail
window will open, providing a number of blanks which you should
complete before sending the e-mail.
Among the information requested is a contact telephone number.
On receipt of your e-mail, we will telephone you to double
check the arrangements you wish to book, as well as to take
details of a debit or credit card, which will be used
to pay the initial deposit.
We look forward to hearing from you.
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