Hiking is a dog's delight

Dogs are passionate hikers. They love being out and about with their humans through woodland and open country. It makes no difference to them where this happens, but variety greatly adds to the fun of a hiking trip. Beforehand, make sure the dog is well looked after along the way. So please do not forget to bring drinking water, a small bowl, a first-aid kit and, of course, poo bags. For longer trips you should also pack provisions, a blanket and a toy for rest breaks. Anyone heading out into nature should also think about effective tick prevention. The EU pet passport also belongs in your luggage, and of course the dog should be registered.

Beautiful hiking routes for dog and human

In the north-east of Germany there is an insider tip, namely the Uckermark. It is a wonderful region that is not yet so well known and offers numerous hiking trails. Well worth seeing are the Lower Oder Valley National Park, the Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve and the Uckermark Lakes Nature Park. This is especially fun for dogs who like to romp about in the water. The hike leads through hilly landscapes and is fondly known as the Tuscany of the North. The best-known routes are the Märkischer Landweg, the Sechs-Seen-Rundweg and the Wolletzsee-Rundweg. It is entirely up to you whether you take short hikes or perhaps trips lasting several days. It can happen here that you are out and about all alone across the open country – but the tranquillity in return is unique.

• Targeted preparation with water, provisions and a first-aid kit
• Discovering water-rich areas in the Uckermark
• Hiking through the varied volcanic landscapes of the Eifel
• Enjoying nature in the wooded Frankenwald and in the Alps

The volcanic region of the Eifel

In the west of Germany, the beautiful Ahr valley is recommended. There, between Monschau in the north and Trier in the south, you can experience wonderful nature in the Eifel. The Eifelsteig, the Römerkanal-Wanderweg and the Ahrsteig are just a few of the many trails in the Eifel that lead to the most beautiful spots and to many sights. The Eifel is Germany's youngest volcanic region, with impressive landscapes, wide forests, bizarre rock formations and beautiful lakes. Covering over 5,300 square kilometres, the Eifel therefore offers plenty of space to enjoy a leisurely tour with your beloved four-legged friend. Seen from north to south, the Eifel is home to four nature parks that you can admiringly explore with your dog.

The Frankenwald Nature Park

If you would like to head out into the middle of Germany, the Frankenweg is recommended. It leads through the Frankenwald Nature Park, which is rightly also known as the Green Crown of Bavaria. More than half of the area is covered with dense forests. Here you will experience high plateaus, gentle mountain ridges and narrow, wooded valleys. So there is plenty of space to grant your four-legged friend a proper run. The Frankenweg is signposted, but you should nevertheless carry a hiking map. The best starting point is Blankenstein, where the trail first leads through the wildly romantic Höllental. Here the Selbitz river has cut deep into the rock. After that it continues through fields, forests and meadows into the Froschbach valley and up to the Döbraberg. From here you have a magnificent view of the Fichtelgebirge.

After that you can follow the course of the Wilde Rodach river, where the tradition of log rafting is still practised today. The Wilde Rodach flows through the town of Kronach, which is definitely worth a visit. It has a wonderful old town with real gems of urban architecture. High above the old town, the Rosenberg Fortress can be seen from afar. It houses the Franconian Gallery, which you should not miss.

Castles and palaces in the south

In the south, near Bad Reichenhall, the 33-kilometre Burgenweg is recommended, which is one of a number of further and longer hiking trails. The Burgenweg leads to the castles and palaces of the region. The best starting point is Marzoll Castle. From here you reach the Kleinburg ruin, the Karlstein castle ruin and Stauffenberg Castle. The trails partly cross the border into Austria and back again at the foot of the Latten mountains. Here, too, the paths are very well signposted and ideally suited for taking your dog along.