Diersfordt Forest

Two state records make a hiking trip to Diersfordt worthwhile!

Firstly, the largest acidophilous oak forest in NRW and secondly, the largest population of the otherwise rather rare stag beetle! 

Today's nature reserve and part of the Hohe Mark Nature Park consists of glacial sand dunes, which are largely overgrown with old, gnarled oaks, copper beeches and Scots pines. Interspersed are small areas of moorland and heathland, which are colonised by rare animal and plant species.

Game enclosure

In 1850, the lords of Diersfordt Castle had a game enclosure originally covering 1,800 hectares built for hunting. Today, red deer, fallow deer, mouflon and wild boar live in the 350-hectare enclosure. With a little luck and patience, you can observe the shy animals from viewing huts. Wildlife gates allow hikers access to the enclosure.