FAQs - Frequently asked questions

The walking tours start on 18 April at Diepenbrock Castle at the following times:

08:30 - 09:00 - 26 km walk (Germany-Netherlands)

09:30 - 10:00 - 15 km walk

11.00-11.30 - 8 km family walk

Start times may be subject to change depending on the number of participants. If there are large numbers of participants, the starting groups may be spread out. We will let you know in good time if this is the case.

There is no time limit on any of the routes. We walk for the sheer joy of walking, and the event is non-competitive.
The event will draw to a close at Diepenbrock Castle at 17:00. If you need a bit longer, no problem: we'll be waiting for all participants at the finish line and will be in constant contact with our tail runners to ensure no hiker slips under the radar :-).

All routes will be announced well in advance.

Entry fee

· 26 km walk - entry fee €18 | Early-bird rate €15

· 15 km walk - Entry fee €14 | Early-bird rate €11

· 8 km walk - Entry fee €10 | Early-bird rate €7

· Children's ticket - Entry fee €5 | Early-bird rate €4

The children's ticket is valid for children up to and including the age of 12 and can be used for all walking routes.

The entry fees include refreshment stations, the hiking pass, an orientation map and a small token of appreciation at the finish line.

You can collect your walking pass from the City Marketing Office in the run-up to the walking day. This means you'll already be registered for the walking day and can set off straight away on Sunday without having to queue at the registration desk beforehand.

The registration desk's opening hours will be announced here in good time.

The 8 km walk is ideal for families with children. Children who can already read will receive a puzzle map when they register and can go on a treasure hunt along the way with Bokeltje, the beech goblin from Bocholt. For the very youngest participants, a soft toy treasure hunt is on offer. A little treasure awaits all the hard-working participants at the finish line.

All the routes and trails wind through the flat countryside of the beautiful and idyllic Westmünsterland, and the 26-kilometre route also takes you partly into the Dutch Achterhoek. The routes are characterised by nature trails and footpaths. You'll be walking on a variety of surfaces, and the majority of the routes are set in the countryside with little intrusive infrastructure around them.

All three walking routes are signposted with arrows in different colours at every fork in the path. You'll also receive a printed overview map from the registration office, and of course you can download the routes in advance via komoot onto your mobile phone or tablet, so that you always have your navigation device to hand during the hike. This should make getting lost virtually impossible!

P.S. Hiking maps are actually still available :-) Please feel free to contact the Tourist Information Centre | Nordstraße 14, Bocholt | Telephone: 02871/ 50 44 | Email: info(at)tourist-info-bocholt(dot)de

As a general rule when hiking, of course, the less luggage the better! At all refreshment points, you can top up your water bottle and there's a varied selection of free snacks on offer, such as fruit, energy bars and the like, so you can always satisfy a small hunger pang between meals. You're, of course, responsible for bringing any special dietary requirements, etc., yourself.

On the longest hiking route, there's also a hot snack available roughly halfway through.

The most important thing when hiking is to have well-broken-in shoes with suitable hiking or running socks. When choosing shoes, you can opt for hiking, running, trekking or trail running shoes - the main thing is that they're comfortable, a good fit and well-broken-in!

Any rucksack you use should also be chosen carefully and have well-padded straps that sit snugly against your shoulders.

Depending on the weather, dress in layers where possible and remember to take sun and/or rain protection with you. You should also always carry a water container (bottle or hydration bladder) with you.

There are, of course, toilets in the start/finish area and at all refreshment stations. We would appreciate it if you could avoid relieving yourselves in public wherever possible, even though we realise that this isn't always possible, particularly with younger children :-)

Against the stunning backdrop of Diepenbrock Castle, we're setting up a small but charming hiking village for you.

Here you'll find the registration desk, places to grab a bite to eat, and even a nice cold beer to round off the day. Of course, after your hike, you can also stop off at the cosy terrace of Café Schloss Diepenbrock and treat yourself to a delicious reward.

Our partners also have a few interesting and entertaining activities in store for you. More information to follow...

You'll find both free cycle and car parking spaces close to Diepenbrock Castle. Just follow the signs when you get there.

For the sake of the environment and to save space, we recommend that residents of Bocholt come by bike wherever possible. If your neighbours are also coming, it would be great if you could share a car for the journey - that's sustainable too! :-)

There is a first-aid post in the start and finish area, and a mobile unit is also stationed along the route.

First-aid kits are available at all refreshment stations for minor injuries. You can also speak to the volunteers here if you are unable to complete the course. We recommend running in small groups. In addition, there will be the odd bicycle patrol out and about to keep an eye on things.

In the event of a medical emergency, please dial 112 immediately! This number also applies to the Dutch section of the 26 km route.

As a general rule, you are responsible for your own safety and that of other road users! This means that the routes are not cordoned off separately, for example at road crossings. It is best to walk in the same way as you normally would when out walking or in general road traffic. For example, on shared cycle and footpaths, always walk as far to the right as possible and in single file, so that cyclists can overtake you on the left. Very dangerous or blind spots will be made even safer by marshals.

Yes, your dog is welcome to join you on the walk, provided it is kept on a lead.

We ask that you leave the hiking environment just as you found it. Please put your rubbish in your rucksack or in the bins at the refreshment stops. Please clear up after your dog and try to avoid urinating in the wild wherever possible.

If everyone behaves as they would expect other participants on the walk to behave, it will be a relaxing and wonderful day's walk for everyone! :-)