A ride through the Ahlenmoor, a trail with stops highlighting its flora and fauna, and insights into local history each offer a different perspective. In Wanna, the moorland railway station is at MoorIZ, Am Hohen Kopf 3, between Wanna and Flögeln. This makes it easy to combine a ride on the moorland railway with a visit to MoorIZ; visitors interested in church architecture or historic crafts will find dedicated exhibits on those subjects too.
Moorland Railway and Moorland Nature Trail
The moorland railway travels a 5.7-kilometre circular route through the Ahlenmoor, the largest raised bog in Cuxhaven district. The regular trip takes about two hours and 15 minutes. Four stops provide information from a knowledgeable moorland railway guide. Along the route, wooden boardwalks, platforms and an observation tower offer views of the landscape. The route passes through rewetted areas where peat was formerly extracted, remaining areas of raised bog and land that was once used for agriculture. Rare plants can be spotted, and with a little luck, so can rare animals adapted to this distinctive habitat.
At MoorIZ, an interactive bog exhibition offers another way to explore the subject. Moorland railway trips for groups and school classes can be arranged by prior agreement, including outside the regular season. Individual routes are also possible. Check the latest operating and booking conditions before setting off, as the stated duration is an approximate time for the regular trip.
The moorland nature trail is a family-friendly destination and is open to visitors free of charge all year round. Around 14 information stations explore the flora and fauna of the bog. The trail has been renovated to provide barrier-free access. As local conditions can change, it is advisable to check the trail’s condition before your visit. The railway and trail offer different ways to explore the area: a guided circular trip with several stops, and a freely accessible trail with information stations.
Local History and Architecture
Wanna Local History Museum shows what local life was like at the beginning of the 20th century. Exhibits include a complete old blacksmith’s workshop from the 1940s, a shoemaker’s workshop and prehistoric objects. Once a year, the museum holds an open day with guided tours and traditional demonstrations; check the date in advance. The museum also highlights butter cake baked in a stone oven.
St. George’s Church was rebuilt in 1867 in the Neo-Gothic style on the site of a church dating from the 13th or 14th century. Its floor plan is cross-shaped, and the bell tower is integrated into the west side of the building. The stone burial site in Westerwanna consists of eight large stones arranged in an oval and two capstones laid above them. Another stone burial site in Ahlen-Falkenberg is also known as Crodons Kirche or Kronskark.
Gravenberg’s history is also linked to archaeological finds: the first urns were discovered there during an excavation in 1738. In 1869, Gravenberg was excavated again in the hope of finding further antiquities. The two dates mark different phases of the search and help put the history of the finds in chronological context.
Regional Routes and Practical Information
The Hadler Sagenweg tells regional legends and stories about nature through podcasts and audio plays at 32 stops along existing cycle routes in the Land Hadeln collective municipality. Information and a map brochure are available at MoorIZ in Wanna/Ahlen-Falkenberg; check availability in advance.
Parking is available at the moorland railway station by MoorIZ. Another way to get around is the AST 1322 dial-a-ride taxi, which connects Otterndorf with Ahlen-Falkenberg and MoorIZ. As the service’s booking conditions may change, check them before travelling. This lets you plan around the moorland railway, a self-guided trail, the museum and regional themed routes without having to fit everything into a single day trip.
Discover more destinations: Börde Lamstedt, Hemmoor, Sahlenburg, Cuxhaven, Osten, Beverstedt, Am Dobrock, Langen.
Go to the main travel overview: Cuxhaven.
