Cycling between moor and peat along the Dutch-German border – Pioneer Route

The German Emsland and the Dutch province of Drenthe are not exactly known for their hilly landscapes, but they offer wide views, beautiful nature and moors. This Pioneer Route takes you 280 kilometres (174 mi) between the towns of Meppen, Nordhorn, Schoonebeek and Ter Apel. Four days of flat hiking lie ahead of you. With a total of 500 metres (1,640 ft) of elevation gain, you can safely leave your mountain gear at home.

The Pioneer Route, together with its sister, the Smokkel Route, is part of the United Countries Tour. This is a 600-kilometre (373 mi) network of cycling routes in the Emsland/County of Bentheim/Groningen/Drenthe regions, linking the beautiful landscapes, historic buildings and rich history of each across the German and Dutch borders. While the Smokkel Route focuses on old smugglers' routes, the Pioneer Route explores the region’s most important raw material – peat. You learn about how it was extracted and used at the beginning of industrialisation.

The entire Pioneer Route is marked with a yellow sign inscribed ‘United Countries Tour’. If you’re interested in the Smokkel Route, you can find the Collection here: komoot.de/collection/1320969/die-schmugglerpfade-radeln-auf-der-smokkelroute.

I’ve divided the Tour into four daily stages of around 70 kilometres (43.4 mi) each. Even if you ride at a leisurely pace and visit lots of sights, you don’t have to worry about reaching your destination too late in the evening. I chose to begin in Meppen as Twist, the official starting point, is difficult to reach with public transport and I prefer not to rely on a car. You can stay overnight in Nordhorn, Schoonebeek and Ter Apel which have plenty of hotels or B&Bs. I’d definitely recommend booking in advance.

I hope you enjoy getting to know the quiet landscapes, nature reserves and moors, and switching off for a few days. And, I always recommend stopping for apple pie and coffee in a Dutch café. I, for one, have never been able to resist…