WWF hiking tip: Pure dynamism - circular hike around the Hörnum-Odde

Once you reach the eastern side, turn south on the path. Soon, to the east of the path, you'll see the "Hörnum Spit," a large sandbank that extends into the mudflats. Depending on the season, thousands of Wadden Sea birds can rest here during high tide (high tide resting place). Please note the barrier – for environmental reasons, the Hörnum Spit is not accessible.

North of a golf course located in the dunes, a path leads into the dune landscape to a small viewing dune. From here, you have a beautiful view of the southern part of the island. Turn around and continue south on the dune path on the right. The last section is a boardwalk that leads to old fortifications. You'll pass a large hotel on the mudflat side and shortly reach Hörnum Harbor.

In the harbor and in the Wadden Sea to the east, you'll see mussel fishing activities. Walk past the harbor for a few hundred meters along Hörnum's beach promenade and then continue along the eastern beach.

From here, Hörnumer Odde is clearly visible. Only a fraction of the island's once expansive southern tip remains today. Especially after the storm season, the cliff edges clearly show where wind and waves are gnawing away at the tip.

The route continues around the Odde to the west beach. After a while, a curious concrete installation appears on the beach – the tetrapods. These protect a settlement nestled in the dunes here, but at the same time, at their southern beginning, they lead to increased beach erosion. Structures like these are fortunately an exception from the past on Sylt's west beach. "Soft coastal protection" has long since been adopted in almost all areas, and the island is protected by sand dredging. While this also constitutes an intervention in nature, it is less significant than that caused by permanent structures.

We now head north along the beach towards the starting point of the tour.

At the campsite, a path leads through the dunes toward the center of the island. A detour to the Wadden Sea Arche Information Center is recommended. Those who wish can shorten the tour at this point and take the bus between Westerland and Hörnum at the Steintal stop.

Continuing along the beach, the path through the dunes that branches off east to the Möskental bus stop and parking lot can be recognized from afar by the rotating measuring device of "Bunker Hill." Here, you can once again enjoy the fantastic view of the beach and dune landscape.

If you like, you can extend the tour at this point and continue north along the beach. You can then take a path through the dunes to other bus stops at other locations—for example, at Puan Klent or Zanzibar.

For bird and plant enthusiasts, it is worth taking binoculars and appropriate literature with you – also as an app.

Train to Westerland, then continue by bus (Line 2) towards Hörnum until the Möskental stop.

https://www.sylt.de

https://www.waddensea-worldheritage.org/de 

https://www.nationalpark-wattenmeer.de/sh 

https://nationalpark-partner-sh.de 

NAKUWA Culture Factsheet Bike burning

NAKUWA Culture Factsheet Sylt

What to do in the south of Sylt? Association position

• Please stay on marked trails in the national park and pay attention to the signs protecting breeding and resting areas. Even if there are no signs, very nervous birds often indicate that you are too close to their nests!


• Please always keep your dog on a leash when accompanying you on your hiking trip so that it does not accidentally disturb breeding or resting birds.


• Please do not leave any rubbish in nature.


• Please do not pick flowers in the national park, as many plants are protected under special protection. Instead, enjoy the sight of them in person.


• Please keep your distance from resting flocks of birds and seals when walking along the beach or water's edge.