Is mountain biking across a mountain range high on your bucket list? Then I've got just the thing for you without you having to commit to a massive adventure.

The Teutoburg Forest offers action-packed trails, beautiful landscapes, flowing descents and challenging climbs. It's easy to reach and you're never so far out that you get into trouble if you have a breakdown or change of plan. In short, the Teutoburg Forest is perfect for immersing yourself in the world of mountain adventure. All you need is your bike and a long weekend. I'll show you the perfect route in this Collection: the TransTeuto over three stages.

The Teutoburg Forest is one of the northernmost low mountain ranges in Germany. It stretches north of Münster, near the small village of Hörstel, in a narrow band about 105 kilometres (65 mi) long, past Bielefeld towards the southeast, where the mountains merge into the Eggegebirge at Leopoldstal. The highest point is 446 metres (1,463 ft) above sea level, which doesn't sound like much but, in comparison to the pancake-flat surrounding countryside, it offers quite a bit of altitude.

Since it’s a narrow ridge, circular Tours in the Teuto don't make much sense. Instead, the terrain is absolutely made for fantastic traverses. The TransTeuto is about 140 kilometres (87 mi) long and takes you along beautiful forest paths and flowing trails past ancient castles, remarkable rock formations, breathtaking viewpoints and through cosy villages with plenty of places to stop for refreshments.

On paper, this small low mountain range may not seem particularly tough. However, the terrain is quite challenging: it’s constantly up and down and some sections are very steep. Even if you're a die-hard mountain biker, you'll get your money's worth here – in the end, you'll gain a whopping 3,210 metres (10,530 ft) in altitude. How challenging your Tour will be is up to you. You can take on the TransTeuto as a real challenge and ride it in one go or you can divide it into stages. The three stages I’ve created in this Collection are perfect for a long weekend and doable even for those with less MTB experience. You'll find comfortable accommodation at the end of each stage where you can relax.

I’ve ridden this route on a gravel bike, although admittedly it was a bit rough at times. But, let’s be clear, no alpine trails await. A light, all-mountain bike or even a hardtail is perfectly adequate for this adventure. I did the route in two stages and stayed at an ‘Ibis Budget’ in Bielefeld. These inexpensive hotels are great for bikers because you can check in at any time and after 10 p.m. no one usually cares what you take with you to your room (like bikes, for example).

Since the TransTeuto is a one-way stage ride, arriving by train makes a lot of sense. The trail starts in Hörstel and this small town has its own railway station which is only a few hundred metres to the start. I took the regional express to Rheine and then it's about 10 kilometres (6 miles) to the start. At the end of the ride, it’s not far to the station in Leopoldstal. From there, you can catch the train to Paderborn which has more connections.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your bike, enjoy the time and put a big tick on your bucket list afterwards.