The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Kölpinsee

The field path between the resting place in the forest and Götschendorf is already an insider tip. Idyllic, quiet, and relaxing. The views of the wide meadows and farmland are enchanting. But the many locust trees growing here can be even more inspiring. You can observe them up close. They have incredibly gnarled trunks, many carry mistletoe. All absolutely worth seeing. An experience! - The entire marked section of the field path is almost exclusively lined with locust trees on both sides! Cycling would be quite possible. In the wooded area near the road, there are still many gnarled locust trees on the field side.

Just behind the broken willow, which has been completely conquered by ants, you'll find 3 unusually large anthills on the slope here. You really don't see things like this often nowadays! - The entire ambiance is absolutely magical, as we have the atmospheric forest edge on one side and the view of damp meadows opposite. In the area of the ants, there are very imposing old pine trees, which were thoroughly tapped on both sides during GDR times.

On both sides of the dirt path, which apparently can even be driven on by cars (not recommended at all!), swamps stretch out. Truly picturesque. You should walk or cycle slowly and behave respectfully, meaning absolutely quietly. Only then can you truly enjoy the wonderful views! - Anyone coming from the direction of Groß Kölpin will soon approach a strange terrain with striking ancient wall remains. The wild, overgrown area on the left is extensively covered with snowdrops! You have to look closely.

A swamp that is really worth seeing, which has practically re-emerged in the forest. Accordingly, many dead trees stick out and are partly piled on top of each other. Great view. Further back, swans like to frequent, most likely also breed there. And who knows what other animals are frolicking around there. Getting close is not entirely easy and hardly recommended, probably also forbidden, like almost everything in Germany. We unfortunately don't have any really effective nature conservation despite this, and that is definitely not due to individual hikers or cyclists, but to the privileges that local farmers, hunters, anglers, etc. enjoy everywhere, even in the biosphere reserves and even in their supposedly strictly protected core zones! Where exactly these zones are, you usually don't find out in the terrain at all, or rather by chance.

Right on the edge of the quaint village of Groß Kölpin lies this farm, which specializes in Highland cattle. The pastures can be admired all around, even up by the road, unmissable if you come from Milmersdorf. - Even the nameplate is absolutely impressive. The operators have style, so big praise to the Limber family! On the back, a huge boat catches the eye, which has just been standing there for quite a few years. In the background, a giant oak tree stands out. The ambiance is truly inspiring, a kind of Gesamtkunstwerk of nature, rural life, architecture, and technical equipment.

How this bad dirt track winds through the terrain, with views over the meadows, the forest, and the magnificent solitary fieldstone barn, is absolutely magical. The tiny place Hahnwerder nearby is worth seeing anyway. Actually, nobody lives there and it is questionable whether and when the quaint little properties are even used during the holiday season. The larger domicile on the slope, framed by trees, seems to be permanently inhabited. Of course, the barn itself is the real highlight and an excellent photo opportunity!

Up here on the slope, you have a wonderful view far beyond to the northwestern end of the magical lake. We are shortly before or behind the fishing property, where apparently no direct sales take place. Even access is forbidden; they try to turn away potential visitors with a stupid sign, even though the supposed "fishery" is signposted from 2 directions, from Groß Kölpin and from Götschendorf. Access through the middle of the forest is apparently permitted for cars, but actually only recommended for off-road vehicles. The viewpoint only emerged in recent years, after an approximately 30m wide area on the steep embankment was completely cleared. So they are allowed to do all of that, despite the supposedly strict nature reserve.

Approaching the village of Groß Kölpin from the south, you first pass the Mistelhof (at the turnoff to it) and pastures with Highland cattle, and shortly before the first houses you come across this mighty "pile" of straw bales. Very impressive. Can the few cattle eat so much in 1 year or is some of it also needed in the barn?