Pollmann:Compass bike guide from Berlin

valleys, quiet canal-side paths and hundreds of lakes accompany the long-distance cycle route in Germany, while on the Danish South Sea islands the sea takes centre stage with picturesque harbour towns and miles of beaches. - From Berlin, the cycle route leads up the Havel to the source of the Havel, crosses the Müritz National Park and the Mecklenburg Lake District and follows the Warnow Valley to the Hanseatic city of Rostock. After the ferry crossing from the seaside resort of Warnemünde to Gedser, the South Sea islands of Falster, Bogø, Møn and Zealand await with harbour towns and fishing boats, lighthouses and chalk cliffs as well as miles of beaches. Thousands of migratory birds rest here in autumn. - Lakes, forests and nature reserves alternate with old town pearls, castles and cliff coasts. - Forest tracks and tarmac cycle paths as well as side roads define the route on the six stages in Germany and four stages in Denmark. Product in brief: - The nature highlight: Stage 4 from Kratzeburg at the source of the Havel through the Müritz National Park along Germany's largest lake. - The family highlight: Stage 7 leads from the Gedser ferry harbour via the holiday island of Falster to the picturesque half-timbered harbour town of Nykøbing and the beaches in the east of the bird island. - The pleasure highlight: just outside Oranienburg, a marvellous forest ride begins along the Havel, which has been developed into the Oder-Havel Canal, before a natural section of the river with many meanders delights in Liebenwalde. At Zehdenick, with its clayey landscape, the cycle route enters the Uckermark Lakes Nature Park and follows the Havel to Fürstenberg. - The personal highlight: The uninhabited nature reserve and sports peninsula Feddet on Præstø Fjord, the sandy beaches of Faxe Ladeplads and the picturesque church ruins at the beginning of the most spectacular section of the chalk cliff coast Stevns Klint are among the highlights of stage 9 around the East Cape of Zealand. - The cultural highlight: from the Brandenburg Gate, stage 1 follows car-free paths to the Havel lakes in the west of Berlin. The Havel lowlands set the route northwards to Oranienburg.