This time, my partner and I chose our Ruhr Region Round Tour. In this travel report, I'll share everything we experienced along the way – including the unexpected surprises that awaited us as we cycled through the region in the summer heat.
Getting to Herne was quick and easy. After checking in at the Parkhotel, our first stop was the bike garage, where I picked up my Velociped e-bike for the journey. Seeing the garage filled with green bikes immediately told us that we wouldn't be the only ones exploring the Ruhr Region on this tour. A leisurely stroll through the nearby park followed by a delicious dinner in the beer garden was the perfect way to end our first day.
On our first morning, we set off in glorious sunshine towards Herne's town centre. The well-kept pedestrian area, lined with charming little shops, is perfect for a leisurely stroll. Thanks to the excellent cycling infrastructure, the ride from Herne to Dortmund is surprisingly relaxed despite passing through an urban area. Our route follows the Rhine–Herne Canal to the Waltrop Lock Park, home to the impressive Henrichenburg Boat Lift. From Ickern, we continue alongside the River Emscher, enjoying the welcome shade along the riverside cycle path. A short detour to the Kokerei Hansa gives us our first taste of the Ruhr Region's industrial heritage. Although guided tours are not available on Mondays, the information boards at the entrance provide fascinating insights into the site's history. After just a few more kilometres, passing Westfalenpark along the way, we arrive at Phoenix Lake. Our hotel for the night is just a short distance away. In the afternoon, another highlight awaits: a guided tour of the Hochofen Phönix West. Equipped with safety helmets and accompanied by an expert guide, we climb 100 steps to the Skywalk before continuing up to the top of the approximately 70-metre-high blast furnace. Anyone with a fear of heights should be prepared—but the spectacular views make every step worthwhile.
The morning begins with a ride through a peaceful residential area before joining a former railway line that has been transformed into a cycle path. The surrounding woodland provides welcome shade, making the journey towards Witten pleasantly cool despite the warm weather. After cycling through Witten's pedestrianised town centre, we reach the day's highlight: the Zeche Nachtigall . Equipped with helmets, we walk through a mining tunnel around 180 metres long, where the temperature remains a refreshing 12°C, before emerging at the former quarry. Our guide shares fascinating insights into the history of the mine, the working conditions underground, its early closure, and its later transformation—while happily answering all our questions along the way. After enjoying a well-earned cold drink, we continue towards Hattingen. A few kilometres later, we cross the Ruhr River by ferry before cycling via the picturesque Kemnader Lake, where we take a short break, and finally arrive in the charming town of Hattingen.
Before setting off, we take one last stroll through Hattingen's picturesque old town. Then it's back into the saddle—but not before another fascinating industrial heritage experience. Together with an expert guide, we explore the vast grounds of the Henrichshütte Ironworks, including a climb to the top of another impressive blast furnace. Once again, those spectacular views are well worth the effort. Afterwards, we follow the Ruhr River by bike to Lake Baldeney, making a short stop at Villa Hügel, the former residence of the Krupp family. After several days of sunshine and soaring temperatures, dark clouds begin to gather. Should we wait for the rain to pass—or keep cycling? We choose the latter. After all, I'm riding an e-bike! Before long, a refreshing summer rain catches up with us, and we arrive at our hotel in Kettwig thoroughly wett but smiling. Just a little later, I receive a call from our office in Marburg: my suitcase has accidentally been left behind at the previous hotel. Luckily, my colleagues have already taken care of everything, and the luggage is on its way to me. What a relief—and what a moment of panic!
The temperatures have finally cooled down a little, making for ideal cycling weather as we set off towards Mülheim an der Ruhr. Along the way, we stop in a small park with a pond, ducks, and plenty of peaceful surroundings—the perfect spot for a relaxing lunch break. From there, we continue on to Duisburg. Before long, however, we notice that my partner's bike keeps losing air. What starts with frequent stops to pump up the tyre eventually turns into a full inner tube replacement. The unexpected repair slows us down, but we still manage to reach Duisburg by late afternoon. Our first task on arrival is to properly fix the puncture and find a spare inner tube so we're well prepared for the next day's ride. Later that evening, we head to Duisburg's Inner Harbour, where we round off the day with a delicious dinner by the waterfront.
Our day begins with a ride to the Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord. On the way, we suffer yet another puncture, meaning several more stops to pump up the tyre just to keep going. When we finally arrive, we realise we have only 15 minutes left before our guided cycling tour starts. Time for a lightning-fast inner tube change! Somehow, we make it just in time. Together with our guide, we cycle through the vast former industrial site. It's fascinating to see how this once-active steelworks has been transformed into such a unique recreational and cultural destination. After a light lunch in the park, we continue to our next highlight: the Tetrahedron in Bottrop, an impressive steel sculpture built on top of a former mining spoil heap. Once again, I'm especially grateful for my e-bike on the climb. Reaching the top is more than worth the effort, as we're rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views across the Ruhr Region. From there, we cycle on to the modern Friends Hotel, located on the grounds of the UNESCO-listed Zeche Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen. After enjoying an aperitif, it's time to get dressed up for the evening. A wonderful dinner awaits us at MÜLLERS auf der Rü by Nelson Müller—a fantastic surprise arranged by my lovely colleagues. Thank you so much for making the evening so special!
After breakfast, another fascinating highlight awaits: a guided tour of the UNESCO-listed Zeche Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex. Afterwards, we begin our ride back towards Herne, stopping along the way for a refreshing break at Holger's Erzbahnbude, a popular meeting point for cyclists. One final climb takes us up to Halde Hoheward, where we're rewarded with yet another spectacular panorama across the Ruhr Region. From there, we coast downhill over the striking Dragon Bridge before reaching Herne's pedestrianised town centre. A well-deserved ice cream provides the perfect excuse for one last break before cycling back to the hotel. Back at the Parkhotel, I return my e-bike to the bike garage. After a relaxed dinner and a restful night's sleep, it's time to head home the following morning—with plenty of wonderful memories from an unforgettable cycling adventure through the Ruhr Region.
A truly special tour full of unforgettable highlights. Every day brought a new adventure—whether carefully planned or completely unexpected. For me, this was one of the most enjoyable cycling holidays I've experienced so far.
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