Expedition Uthlande: Sylt South - A Walk with the Wind

The route starts at the Dikjen-Deel bus stop. This can be reached by bus 2. It is about a 200 m walk from the stop. The bird hide is signposted. Only the name “Eidum” reminds us of the old place, which disappeared into the sea further west. The residents of the village have demolished their houses several times and rebuilt them about 2 km further east in Südhedig. This led to the creation of the town of Westerland. Upon leaving the bird decoy, keep to the left and continue diagonally opposite along the forest path southwards until you reach the shelter in the forest. Just a few steps away you will find the signpost to the Rantum basin. Here you turn right and continue walking along the dike towards the south. The Rantum Basin is on the left. On our way, near the Hanna house, we almost stumble over a small boundary stone: the municipality of Westerland extends to this point, and Rantum begins there. The dike stretches along the Rantum basin all the way into Rantum itself. At the level of the Rantum campsite, it makes a bend towards the mainland, which can be clearly seen in clear weather. If you do not want to follow the path around the Rantum basin, turn right onto the dike towards the sailing harbor. A visit to the Sylt coffee roastery or the small Rantum sailing harbor is worthwhile. Behind the sailing harbor you have the option of taking the path on the left through the salt marshes. Depending on the time of year, it can sometimes be very muddy here, as the North Sea water also temporarily floods this part. At the end of the salt marshes you come across the Merret-Lassen-Wai. There is a small supermarket in Raanwai – here you can replenish your supplies. If the path through the salt marshes is too wet, stay on the dike until you reach the Dikwai. There, keep left and walk along the Raanwai. This road will also take you to the supermarket. On your way to the dunes, make a short detour to St. St. Peter's Church, the only thatched-roof church on Sylt. Heading south, shortly after the northern intersection of Raanwai and Merret-Lassen-Wai, you will reach the beach path. Follow this path, cross the main road, and continue along it for approximately... 50 m towards Hörnum. Then turn right onto Stiindeelke road. This leads to the Henning-Rieken-Wai, which you follow to the left. Turn into Henning-Rieken-Waiein until you reach the boardwalk on the left, which you walk along to the end through the Baakdeel-Rantumer Dunes nature reserve to the Taadjem-Deel car park. Cross the country road and continue on the old island railway line, which has now been converted into a hiking trail, along the Wadden Sea coast, between the dunes covered with heather and crowberries. If the journey becomes too long, you can always go to the crossings on the main road and take the bus. The path continues south for 2,3 km to Puan Klent. Long before we reach the Puan Klent youth hostel, we can see the red and white antenna of the LORAN station. For a short stretch, the hiking trail runs directly next to the main road. From Puan Klent, the trail continues through the dune valley to approx. Hörnum, 4 km away. About 1 km past Puan Klent, a path intersects. Here you can turn left and pass the youth camp directly to the Wadden Sea. The path continues after approx. another kilometer into sandy beach. From here you can get directly to the port of Hörnum. From the harbor you can climb the stairs towards the old school and enjoy the view over the harbor and the neighboring islands of Föhr and Amrum. Now go down the Oberer Dünenweg, turn right into Hangstraße until you reach Rantumer Str./Bushalte Steintal. Diagonally opposite is the National Park House Arche Wattenmeer (Tue-Sun 10am-18pm). From here you can take a circular route (approx. 1-1,5 hours) around the southern tip of the island of Sylt. Two hours before or after low tide, you can walk dry-footed along the west beach to the harbor in the east. First, head towards the campsite. There, take beach crossing no. 76 and always walk along the beach around the Odde.