Expedition Uthlande: North of Sylt - Hiking with the dunes

We start the tour at the Hauptstraße/Friesenhof bus stop in Wenningstedt or at the nearby parking lot. From the main street in Wenningstedt, turn north onto Kirchenweg toward the village pond; follow this paved path for approximately 360 m to the Frisian Chapel. Numerous comfortable benches and seating areas along the shore of the village pond invite you to linger. Many ducks and birds can be observed on the village pond. A special spot for couples is the wooden walkway, where numerous locks express their love. The pond is used as a stormwater retention basin. There is a public restroom at the village pond near the Frisian Chapel, and a playground is opposite the church.

After this "Frisian introduction," leave the chapel on your left and follow a gravel path (Am Denghoog) north for a few meters to the Stone Age grave of Denghoog. This takes you far back in time...

Returning from the past, continue north toward Kampen on the gravel path. After about 500 meters, at a right junction that leads to Norderweg, turn left onto a small path that runs alongside a house. Please follow this small path for about 80 meters and then turn slightly right into the Wenningstedter Wäldchen (fairytale/legend forest). Hopefully, you'll be in a good mood to greet the Dwarf King.

Follow the 400 m long gravel path through the forest and then, after a few meters at the exit, turn right into the Kampener Waldchen. Before entering the Kampener Waldchen, you should make a detour to the Kampener Lighthouse. Be careful of the heavy traffic when crossing the country road (L24) – unfortunately, there are no traffic lights here.

This route takes you into Sylt's "famous dune world." At the exit of the Kampener Wäldchen, turn right onto Möwenweg. After just 10 meters, turn left again onto the cycle path and follow it for about 100 meters. Then, after about 100 meters, turn left onto a former bridleway/sandy trail that winds through the dunes toward Weststrand. Here you'll get your first glimpse of nature's dune-building skills. After about 550 meters, you'll reach a gravel path. There, turn left toward the west towards Uwe Dune. After about 200 meters, climb the 110 steps to the viewing platform—don't forget to hold your breath for the view.

After hopefully thoroughly enjoying the view, leave the viewing platform. Walk back down the Uwe Dune and then keep left. From here, you can continue towards the sea/Red Cliff and then follow the wooden plank path south back to Wenningstedt. Alternatively, continue north along a gravel path for about 600 m towards Sturmhaube. You then reach an asphalt path. From there, continue along a sandy path along the cliff, keep left, and walk along a wooden plank path to the platform at the Sturmhaube parking lot. Please stay on the paths.

Across the parking lot, head back toward the entrance. Then, across another parking lot, turn north along the large boulder toward the cross-marker light. Continue through a barrier on a gravel path for about 100 meters. The last section is a bit steeper until you reach the cross-marker light, where you'll be rewarded for the short climb.

The path leads down a wooden staircase. Keep right. After about 100 m, you reach the cycle path. There, turn right again and after about 500 m, follow a footpath on the left to the traffic lights on the L24. You will reach the "Dikstig" bus stop. Here you have two options: a) You head south to the bus stop and return to Wenningstedt. b) You head north to the bus stop on the other side of the street and take the bus to "Lister Hafen"

Get off at the "List/Hafen" stop and walk north along the promenade. Pass the large parking lot on your left. From a distance, you can see the large blue building with the orange tower: the Sylt Natural Forces Adventure Center. Continue north along the path and then bear right toward Mövenbergdeich. Follow the path along the dike and after about 500 m, you'll pass a metal gate—designed to prevent sheep from passing through. Continue north, enjoying the view into and across the Lister Koog on your left. Continue along the path for about 1,7 km to another metal gate. Beyond the gate, you'll see Königshafen on your right. Feel free to use the tables and benches for a rest or a leisurely picnic.

Cross the street and turn right toward the youth hostel. After about 400 m, walk between the youth hostel buildings and keep left toward the large parking lot. Shortly before the parking lot, turn left toward the youth campground, then turn right onto the gravel path and follow the path for about 600 m through the dunes. A valuable dune conservation area stretches here. The dune landscape is unique in August, when the heather blooms and the surroundings are colored pink. Continue through the dunes. Follow the path to the wooden groyne path. Go up the stairs and at the fork, turn right onto the observation dune. Here you have a view of the shifting dune, the town of List, the harbor, the Königshafen harbor, and the heath... Now you are slowly leaving the bustling world of the sand dunes. Please follow the stairs back to the fork. Here, go down to the right, through a small wooden gate, and continue down the stairs to the road. Then turn right again and continue along Mövenbergstraße. After about 200 m, the 550 m long "Lange Haus" begins. Before you end the hike, turn back toward the edge of the dunes and take a look around the idyllically situated List cemetery. Follow the road past the Lange Haus for about 120 m until you reach the break in the house. Here, turn right and follow the path straight ahead to the dune cemetery (approx. 120 m).

Now follow the path back to the road and continue right along the Long House. After approximately 430 m, the Long House ends. If you follow the road for another 200 m, you will see the new spa administration building on the left. To get back to the harbor, you can either: A – take the bus: On the left on Landwehrdeich Street, diagonally opposite the spa administration building, you will find the next bus stop, "Kurverwaltung / Alte Schule." Route to this point: 2 hours and approximately 6 km B – walk to the harbor: Follow Landwehrdeich Street and continue along Alte Dorfstraße to the Natural Forces Adventure Center. There, turn right to the List Hafen bus stop. Route to this point: 2,5 hours and approximately 8 km

By car to Sylt: Car loading Niebüll www.autozug-sylt.de

By passenger train to Sylt: www.bahn.de or www.nah.sh

Mobile on SyltThe Sylt buses run regularly on all routes. www.svg-busreisen.de

Island and Hallig Conference eV

The hiking brochures are available here!

Hafenstr. 23, Wyk auf Föhr

Tel. 04681-3468, www.inselundhalligkonferenz.de 

Söl'ring Foriining eV

Tel. 0 46 51 - 3 28 05, www.soelring-foriining.de 

Tourist Office List on Sylt

Landwehrdeich 1; D-25992 List / Sylt

Tel. 0 46 51 - 95 20-0, www.list.de 

Kampen Tourism Service

Hauptstrasse 12; 25999 Kampen

Tel. 0 46 51 - 46 98-21, www.kampen.de 

Tourism Service Wenningstedt-Braderup GmbH & Co. KG

Strandstraße 25, 25996 Wenningstedt-Braderup

Tel. 0 46 51 - 447-0, www.wenningstedt.de 

Natural Forces Adventure Center Sylt

Hafenstraße 37, 25992 List

Tel. 0 46 51 - 83 61 90, www.naturgewalten-sylt.de

Alfred Wegener Institute

Hafenstraße 43, 25992 List

Tel. 0 46 51 - 956 0, www.awi.de 

Dittmeyer's Oyster Company GmbH

www.sylter-royal.de

Sylter Meersalz GmbH & Co. KG

www.sylter-meersalz.de

Sylt Ice Cream Manufactory

www.sylter-eismanufaktur

The little etiquette for protected areas:

- All protected areas are marked with official signs.

- Pay attention to information panels. They contain information about the conservation purpose of the region and the animals and plants in the area.

- The Wadden Sea is a vital refueling point for millions of migratory birds. Please avoid bird gatherings as much as possible. Do not disturb nesting birds.

- Dogs must be kept on a leash throughout the entire protected area.

- Keep your distance from resting seals, fur seals and seabirds.

- Camping, making fires and leaving official paths is prohibited.

-Please do not camp in the overgrown dunes.

- Take your rubbish with you.

- Do not feed seagulls.

- One more request: Do not remove any animals or plants.

- Vitally important: Under no circumstances should you attempt a mudflat hike on your own! As harmless as the Wadden Sea may look at low tide, the tide can quickly surprise you and reclaim this idyllic natural area.