The Holter Wald nature reserve is a large, contiguous forest area on the eastern edge of the Westphalian Bay. With a size of 613.14 ha, it is in the area of the city of Schloss Holte-Stukenbrock in the Gütersloh district.
The Holter Forest is a preferred local recreation area for residents of the surrounding towns and communities and is largely designated as a landscape protection area . It is traversed from east to west by the Senne streams Landerbach (in the north of the Holter Forest), Ölbach (in the center) and Rodenbach (in the south). The subsoil consists almost exclusively of sandy soils, which are typical for the Senne landscape. Therefore, a Senne-typical tree population, consisting of pines, oaks and beeches, predominates. Moisture-loving tree species such as alder and ash can also be found in the immediate vicinity of the banks of streams and water bodies.
Popular starting points
Jagdschloss Holte (totally destroyed by Bernhard von der Lippe in 1556, then rebuilt and completed in 1616, listed)
1000-year-old oak (coat of arms tree in the city coat of arms of Schloss Holte-Stukenbrock)
Tenge Villa (listed monument)
Collecting pond with adjoining nature trail, sports facility and wet biotope
Forest house Castle Holte
Mühlgrund (facility for the disabled of the v. Bodelschwinghsche Anstalten Bethel [Bielefeld] with historical oil mill and mill wheel as well as "Mühlcafé")