Miles of sandy beaches, rugged coastal forests, romantic fishing villages and World Heritage Sites: you can experience it all on the Baltic Coast Hiking Trail, a section of the E9. The entire route of the E9 European Long Distance Trail stretches from Portugal to Estonia, from the Atlantic coast to the Baltic Sea. Here, I present the section from the Hanseatic city of Wismar to the Baltic Sea resort of Zingst. Over almost 160 kilometres (100 mi), you get to know the varied landscape of the coast of Germany’s Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in eight days. The Baltic Sea has a lot of fine sandy beaches, but also marshes, salt marshes, coastal forests and cliffs.

On your hike from Mecklenburg to Western Pomerania, you pass through various nature reserves and unique landscapes with the Baltic Sea almost always in sight. The seaside resorts along the route also offer you a rich programme of culture, entertainment and northern German charm. Let yourself be surprised at how beautiful and diverse this coast is. You’ll hardly have to deal with any elevation gain along the entire route, as the coast of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is blissfully flat.

The infrastructure along the Baltic coast is impeccable and the route is well signposted. Since Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is popular with cyclists, you'll share the road with two-wheelers from time to time. If you don't want to walk the route in one adventure, the easiest way to reach each stage is by public transport from Rostock. You can find plenty of restaurants, supermarkets and hotels in all the towns you pass through. Only in Alt Bukow, your first overnight stop, is the choice somewhat limited. Even if the offer is otherwise abundant, it’s worth booking a bed in advance, especially in the summer months when many hotels on the coast are fully booked.

The best time for hiking is from spring to autumn. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is particularly colourful with rapeseed blossom in May; when you can expect bright yellow fields, lush meadows and the blue Baltic Sea. The coastal region is wonderful in summer and autumn too, especially as the sea reaches bathing temperature. Remember to keep a thin jacket handy at all times, even in summer as the sea breeze is often fresh. Don’t pack your rain jacket too far down in your rucksack though. The weather can change quickly on the coast. Take binoculars if you have them as the route takes you through many fantastic bird watching areas.

Martha Müller-Grählert from Zingst wrote of her homesickness in her song with the well-known line ‘Wo de Ostseewellen trecken an den Strand’ (‘Where the waves of the Baltic Sea come to the beach’). When you reach her hometown after eight days along the coast, you’ll easily be able to understand her love for the Baltic Sea coast.