Usseln: Highland Heath, Circular Trails and Family Experiences

Usseln offers you a diverse mix of nature, circular trails, family experiences and regional history when planning your trip. Around the village there are designated nature reserves and highland heath areas, while themed trails, an outdoor swimming pool and museums appeal to different interests. When choosing accommodation in Usseln, you can therefore organise your days around exercise, observing nature, family time or culture, without reducing the village’s attractions to a single type of holiday.

Family experiences and active trails

The 6-km-long Usseln Milk Adventure Trail is a family-friendly themed trail focusing on milk and farming. Places to stop for refreshments and rest are also available along the trail; it ends with a visit to the Muhseumscafé at the Upland Farmers’ Dairy.

For a shorter circular hike, the U2 is available. The circular trail is 3.6 km long and leads around the Hoher Pön. The access route and return from the Usseln Tourist Information Centre follow the same route as the U1 or, in parts, the Uplandsteig trail. This allows you to plan your choice of trail based on its length and particular route.

The U1 starts and ends at the Usseln hiking car park at Sportstraße 7, 34508 Willingen, Usseln district. This specific starting and finishing point makes it easier for you to find your way when you want to include the longer circular trail in your daily plans.

Highland heath and nature reserves

The Kahle Pön area near Usseln has been designated a nature reserve since 1987. The highland heath on Kahle Pön near Usseln provides a habitat for rare and threatened native plant species. Here, therefore, it is not only the route itself that takes centre stage, but also the protected character of the landscape.

The Osterkopf nature reserve lies east of Usseln. It comprises montane dwarf-shrub heath, adjacent mountain meadows and Nardus grassland. These landscape elements shape the area around the Osterkopf and provide another focal point for those interested in nature.

The Osterkopf nature reserve is easily accessible from the Catholic church in Usseln via the Osterkopf Circular Trail. For planning purposes, this access can be considered separately from the U1 and U2 circular trails, as both of those routes have their own starting points and itineraries.

Water and unusual excursion destinations

Usseln Outdoor Swimming Pool has a 25-metre-long water slide as well as diving towers at heights of 1 and 3 metres. The outdoor pool also includes a separate baby pool with colourful play equipment. The two areas therefore cater to different age groups and complement the nature-related activities with an attraction centred around water.

Another option is the Curioseum. There, a 650-metre-long, barrier-free tour leads through two floors and thousands of exhibits. At the Curioseum, you can also view 50 classic cars, 20 partly quirky microcars and vintage motorcycles.

History, milk and regional culture

The Usseln Local History Museum gives you insights into the life, history and culture of the Waldeck Upland across more than 250 m². It also explores the nature and landscape of today’s Diemelsee Nature Park. Numerous exhibits illustrate everyday life in the past, the hard work and the living habits of that time.

St Kilian’s Church in Usseln is regarded as the mother church of the Upland.

At the Upland Milk Museum, you can experience interactive exhibits such as a museum cow for milking and a heavy milk yoke.

Plan Usseln according to your own interests

The Local History Museum, St Kilian’s Church, the Milk Museum and the Curioseum expand the selection with regional history and special exhibitions. When choosing your accommodation in Usseln, you can therefore focus primarily on which of these topics should shape your trip and which destinations you would like to include in your daily plans.

More places to compare for your trip: Schwalefeld, Eimelrod, Rattlar, Bömighausen, Welleringhausen, Neerdar

For the higher-level travel overview: Willingen.