A tour by bike: Hiddensee - in the footsteps of writers and summer holidaymakers

The harbours of Neuendorf, Vitte and Kloster are linked in the tour suggestion and can each be chosen as a starting point. Inexpensive hire bikes are also available in the three towns.

• Route:19 km
• Difficulty:light to medium
• Gradient:80 m
• Pure journey time: 1 h40 min

Book tip: The novel "Kruso" by Lutz Seiler, published in 2014, is largely set in the "Zum Klausner" restaurant on the Dornbusch. The award-winning novel spans the period from the summer of 1989 to the present day.

We start in the quiet and unspoilt Neuendorf (1), the southernmost harbour. Past the wooden sculpture meadow (2) the path leads northwards through heather-covered dunes, where sea buckthorn sprouts lushly. Adders and grass snakes are native to the area, but you rarely get to see these shy animals.

In Vitte, the main town on the island, there is the "Blue Barn" (3) next to Edeka, Sparkasse and souvenir shops. This is a lovingly decorated art museum - a must-see. For lunch, we recommend the "Hafenkater" restaurant (4) with a view of the fishing boats. We cycle along the beach to Kloster on a well-maintained path. This is the former home of Nobel Prize winner Gerhart Hauptmann, now a museum (5). Two houses further on is the "Wieseneck" restaurant and café (6). Here, too, it is worth stopping for a bite to eat, this time with a view of the wide meadows.

The lighthouse is the highlight of Hiddensee

The refreshment doesn't hurt, especially as the strenuous ascent to the Dornbusch begins on the lighthouse trail - the highlight of the island in both senses of the word. The lighthouse of the same name (7) sits enthroned at the top of the glacial hilly landscape. However, it can only be reached on foot. Bicycles can be parked at the small cycle car park located just behind the "Großer Inselblick" viewpoint (8) is located. The restaurant "Zum Klausner" (9) is somewhat hidden in the Dornbusch forest, from where a path leads to the Klausner steps to descend the cliffs.

The return journey leads to the harbour of Kloster (10), where there are also several restaurants. From there, cycle along the dyke, past the Lange-Ort marina (11), before cycling back through Vitte and to Neuendorf.

More on the topic:

• Folding bikes in the test - What you should consider when making your choice
• Places of longing along the German Baltic coast