Easy hikes and walks around Twist

This is where the Fullener Moor begins. It is one of the last remnants of the once extensive Bourtanger Moor. After years of peat extraction, the area is now being rewetted to restore the natural moorland landscape. Typical plants such as cotton grass, sundew, and bog myrtle are growing again on the wetlands.

The provincial moor is located not far from Twist in the Emsland district. It covers an impressive 533 hectares and is part of the Bourtanger Moor-Veenland Nature Park. The area originated from former peat extraction areas managed by the provincial moorland administration and was designated a nature reserve in 2013. The aim is the long-term regeneration of typical raised bog ecosystems.

From the edge of the provincial moor, you look out over a wide, damp landscape where pools of water, cushions of sphagnum moss, and islands of open grass alternate. Between the wet depressions, the white tufts of cotton grass gleam, and the calls of snipe can be heard from the reeds. The area is one of the best-preserved remnants of the Bourtanger Moor and has been a protected area since 2013. Through rewetting, typical raised bog species such as sphagnum mosses, sundews, and moor frogs have re-established themselves here.

The Peelker Schuftbude (Peelker Workers' Hut) is located on the edge of the Bourtanger Moor near Haren and commemorates the era of peat extraction in the Emsland region. The small building consists of an old railway carriage, which was converted into a covered rest area and information point in 2020. The name "Peelker" refers to workers from the Dutch Peel region who once cut peat in the moor.

Particularly impressive in spring and early summer are the cotton grass meadows, whose white seed heads cover vast areas. They show that sphagnum mosses and typical plants are once again spreading in the Bourtanger Moor.

In the Wesuweer Moor, the numerous ditches and narrow canals immediately catch the eye. They date back to the time of peat extraction, when the moor was extensively crisscrossed for drainage. Today, many of these waterways serve rewetting purposes: they keep the water level stable and promote the natural regeneration of the moorland. Sphagnum mosses, sedges, and cotton grasses are re-establishing themselves along their banks. At the same time, the still waters provide valuable refuges for dragonflies, frogs, and waterfowl.

It's incredible how beautifully the sky above the moor is reflected on the smooth surfaces of the ponds.

The Bourtanger Moor – Veenland Nature Park welcomes you – as the name suggests – with a fascinating moor landscape. The 140-square-kilometer nature park is located in the triangle formed by the districts of Emsland and Grafschaft Bentheim, as well as the Dutch province of Drenthe. Several stations provide vivid information about the special features of the moor – including this one in the Fullener Moor. You'll learn interesting facts about the development of the landscape and how the moor was previously managed. Learn more here: https://nationale-naturlandschaften.de/gebiete/naturpark-bourtanger-moor-bargerveen