text:
Wallis and Futuna

Wallis and Futuna is an overseas community of France consisting of two small island groupings in Polynesia, near Fiji and Samoa.

Islands

Wallis and Futuna comprises two archipelagoes:

Hoorn Islands group (also known as the Futuna Islands, and as Îles Horne)
 * Futuna Island (pop.~5,000)
 * Alofi Island (uninhabited)

Alofi Island is the smaller of the two. According to legend it was as densely inhabited as Futuna up until the 19th century, when the Futuna people slaughtered and ate the population in a single raid.

Wallis Islands group (also known as ʻUvea, as is Wallis Island)
 * Wallis Island (ʻUvea) (pop.~10,000)

Wallis Island is surrounded by 15 smaller islands, all of which are uninhabited.

Villages

 * (Matāʻutu) - capital of Wallis and Futuna, also capital of Hahake District, on Wallis Island
 * - the capital of the Sigavé chiefdom, and the third largest village on Futuna Island

Understand
Although visited by the Dutch and the British in the 17th and 18th centuries, it was the French who declared a protectorate over the islands in 1842. In 1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a French overseas territory. There are still three ceremonial kingdoms within the territory: Alo, Sigave, Wallis.

The islands are volcanic in origin, with low hills, and fringing reefs. The highest point is Mont Singavi, at 765 m. The climate is tropical: hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October); rains 2,500-3,000 mm per year (80% humidity); average temperature 26.6 °C.

Talk
The collectivité recognises three official languages: French, Wallisian ('Uvean) and Futunian. About three quarters of the population in Wallis is bilingual. All official documents are written first in French and then in the language of the local island.

English is not very widely spoken among the Wallisian population, though most of the French population knows at least basic conversational English. But the bottom line is that it is highly recommended to arrive with a working knowledge of French.

By plane
The only point of entry by plane is Hihifo Airport on Wallis, which is connected to Nouméa and Nadi. From Hihifo there is a domestic flight to Pointe Vele airport on Futuna. All commercial flights to and inside the territory Wallis Futuna are operated by Aircalin.

By boat
The port of Mata-Utu is on Uvea. Leava (Sigave) is on Futuna.

Get around
Uvea has 120 km of roads, much of which is paved. All the main villages on Futuna can be accessed on paved but rough roads.

See

 * Talietumu fort on Wallis, built by the Tongans in the 15th century.
 * Lake Laloalo on Wallis, a volcanic lake that is almost perfectly circular.

Money
The CFP franc (called just franc locally, symbol F, ISO currency code XPF) is the currency used in Wallis and Futuna, French Polynesia and New Caledonia. The initials CFP stand for Collectivités françaises du Pacifique ("French Communities of the Pacific"). It is pegged to the euro at a fixed rate of 119.33 francs. CFP coins are in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 francs, and banknotes are in denominations of 500, 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 francs. Coins and banknotes are identical across all three French Pacific territories. Before January 2023, New Caledonia and French Polynesia had their own distinct designs on the coin reverse sides, but these were withdrawn, and the 1 and 2 franc coins were discontinued.

Costs
Banking facilities are limited, with no bank located on Futuna. Also, the BWF bank in Wallis will not directly change US $100 bills. Travelers are advised to do their currency exchanges in Nouméa, New Caledonia or Nadi, Fiji prior to arrival.

Drink
The locals pride themselves in how they pour a can of floating Widget Guinness to get the best creamy head. They also like to toast with a dram or 2 of Jamieson Black Barrel or a Captain Morgan Spice. They meet up on a Friday and talk a load of codswallop but also solve the worlds problems.

Stay healthy
Tap water is not potable.

title: Wallis and Futuna


text:
Wallis Island

Wallis Island (ʻUvea) is the largest island in the Wallis Islands group of Wallis and Futuna. It is surrounded by 15 smaller islands, all of which are uninhabited.

Understand
Administratively split into the districts: Hahake ("east"), Hihifo ("west"), and Mu'a ("first")

Villages

 * (formerly Mua) - capital of Mu'a District
 * (Matāʻutu) - capital of Hahake District, and capital of Wallis and Futuna
 * - capital of Hihifo District

By plane
The only point of entry by plane is Hihifo Airport on Wallis, which is connected to Nouméa and Nadi

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Wallis Island


text:
Wallonia

Wallonia is the French-speaking southern part of Belgium. Bordered by Flanders in the North and France in the South-West, its Eastern border is shared by Luxembourg and Germany. While it is Brussels and Flemish cities like Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges, as well as the Flemish seaside, that see most of the tourist traffic in Belgium, Wallonia is no less interesting.

More hilly than the country's North, it has beautiful landscapes, and its cities have a lot of preserved history predating the industrial age. A characteristic shared by the entirety of Belgium are short distances and efficient public transportation, coupled with being very close to major international hubs. That said, in relation to some popular regions of Europe, Wallonia as a whole is a bit off the beaten track and the tourist infrastructure is not always as good as it could be. Furthermore, the region is proudly francophone to the point of some of its people not inclined to master other languages, so at least rudimentary knowledge of French can make all the difference.

Cities

 * - the capital of the Walloon Region
 * - a wealth of Roman archeological sites - and the source of Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs
 * - a major World War II remembrance site
 * - the birthplace of the Belgian comic book culture, formerly centre for Wallonian coal mining, now the site of one of Europe's most popular low-fare airports
 * - a beautiful town stretching along the Meuse against a steep rock
 * - Wallonia's largest city with wide boulevards, rolling hills and a bewildering architectural mix
 * - where the centuries-old, UNESCO-listed Ducasse festivities take place on the impressive Grand Place
 * - the original "spa", famed for healing cold springs since the 14th century
 * - featuring the also UNESCO-listed Romanesque cathedral, one of the best-preserved in Northern Europe

Understand
Today, Wallonia is one of the three federal regions of Belgium (the other two being Flanders and Brussels). This means that it has its own government, a parliament and separate laws. The capital of Wallonia is Namur, near its geographic centre.

Wallonia used to have a very good economy, mostly based on coal mines and heavy industry. In the latter half of the 20th century, the coal pits were increasingly exhausted and the heavy industry relying on them largely unsustainable, leading to unemployment and gradual loss of economic might versus Flanders, whose economy enjoyed renewed growth, thus reversing the 19th-century economic balance.

As Wallonia and its major cities are mostly associated with old-style heavy industry, they are rarely mentioned as major tourist destinations, but it does not mean they do not have rich history and heritage and picturesque sights. Moreover, outside of the cities you will find lush forests rolling over the hills coming down to meandering rivers.

Talk
The official language of Wallonia is French, except in the nine municipalities forming the German-speaking community along the German border. It is very hard to find a German speaker elsewhere in Wallonia outside this region. Similarly, Luxembourgish is spoken in communities bordering Luxembourg and is a recognized minority language in Wallonia.

Foreign languages are not as widely spoken in Wallonia as in Flanders. Dutch is learnt in schools by many, but people in Wallonia do not like to speak it in general. Most young people can speak English but it can be hard to have a conversation in English with someone who is over 40. It can even be hard to find tourist and other useful information in English, even in popular tourist locations. Conversely, Italian and Spanish are widely spoken in the region; Wallonia has one of the highest concentrations of Italians in the world (over 10% of the region's population can trace their roots there), and a growing number of Spaniards have been settling in the region (and Spanish is very popular with young Belgians).

See

 * Major Mining Sites of Wallonia — s consisting of four 19th-century coal mines in the provinces of Liège and Hainaut; Grand Hornu, Bois-du-Luc, Bois-du-Cazier and the Blegny.
 * Belfries of Belgium and France — out of the 56 belfries making up this geographically large world heritage site, seven are located in Wallonia. More specifically in Binche, Charleroi, Gembloux, Mons, Namur, Thuin and Tournai.
 * Belfries of Belgium and France — out of the 56 belfries making up this geographically large world heritage site, seven are located in Wallonia. More specifically in Binche, Charleroi, Gembloux, Mons, Namur, Thuin and Tournai.

Eat
Don't be fooled by the common language - Wallonia, as the entirety of Belgium, has a very distinctive culinary identity. Cuisine is perhaps the most binding aspect of life shared between Wallonia and Flanders, being a melting pot of both Dutch, French and German influences and of course some local invention.

As everywhere in Belgium, pommes frites (don't call them French fries here!) are celebrated and eaten both on their own with a variety of sauces, or as a default side dish to many main courses. If you are after some authentic local street food, you will have no trouble finding one of the many friteries, where you will find not only the fries, but also a selection of fried meat bites you can enjoy on the go.

Wallonia is also where many of Belgium's most popular dishes originated, particularly a range of sweet ones including the tarte au riz (which is just what it sounds like - a tart with rice), Liège waffles (which can be enjoyed with sirop de Liège) or couque de Dinant biscuits.

Much like the French, Walloons like to enjoy their meals outside, at a slower pace, sitting in brasseries or cafes enjoying the view over a busy street or a square. The working class heritage, however, makes having food on the go customary just as well. In comparison to their French neighbours, Walloons pay less attention to elaborate table manners and approach meals more casually.

Stay safe
On the whole, Wallonia is not a dangerous region. Violent crime is (usually) low, natural disasters are rare, and winters are typically mild even if heavy snowfalls occasionally occur. However, not unlike Flanders, some areas are more dangerous than others. Taking basic precautions will usually suffice to feel safe, but extra care should be taken in specific places. This is a direct consequence of Wallonia suffering greatly from the fall of heavy industry, as many areas have yet to recover.

Here are some of the most notable safety tips to keep in mind when in Wallonia:

 * Larger urban areas require extra attention compared to rural areas. Do not show off any valuable items, never leave anything in your car, and travel in groups when possible.
 * Towns closer to Brussels are very safe for the most part.
 * Charleroi is often ridiculed for being a poor and unruly place. While it is not as bad as most Belgians make it out to be, the northern and eastern sections of the city are known hot spots for crime and might come off as uneasy. Try to not wander alone at night.
 * Liège was known for being rather dangerous in the latter part of the 20th century, but the situation has dramatically improved since the mid-2000s. Downtown Liège does house numerous beggars, but they are not usually aggressive.
 * Many areas along the western border with France (essentially those close to Lille) have seen a spike in crime and insecurity since the 2010s. The towns of Mons and Mouscron in particular should be approached with caution.

title: Wallonia


text:
Walloon Brabant

Walloon Brabant is a province of the Wallonia region of southern Belgium.

Cities

 * — A newly built university town.
 * — Home to the Villers Abbey, one of the most beautiful ruins of Belgium.
 * — Famous for the Battle of Waterloo, the battlefield area is the most visited in the province.
 * — Home to the Villers Abbey, one of the most beautiful ruins of Belgium.
 * — Famous for the Battle of Waterloo, the battlefield area is the most visited in the province.

By public transport

 * TEC buses service most parts of the province.

Go next

 * Head to the capital city of Belgium, Brussels.
 * Namur — the capital of the Wallonia region is also very closeby.

title: Walloon Brabant


text:
Wallsend

Wallsend on Tyne is a town in Tyne and Wear in the northeast of England. It's industrial, with a population of almost 44,000 in 2011, and lies four miles east of Newcastle upon Tyne. It got its name as the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall.

Understand
Wallsend was actually "wall's beginning" as Hadrian's Wall was built from here westwards from 122 AD. The town was a crossing point on the Tyne and small port, large enough for the Danes to raid, nevertheless small until the industrial era. Then it grew into a busy noisy place, with coal-mining and ship-building. Walsall Colliery was active 1778-1935: an early manager was John Buddle who helped develop the Davy Lamp, and better ventilation and drainage of pits. But the pits remained dangerous and in 1835 a gas explosion cost 109 lives: the dead were found with their cloth caps stuffed in their mouths to try to keep out the fumes. The youngest victim was eight and the oldest was 75.

Swan Hunter was the best known of the Wallsend shipyards, launching the liner Mauretania in 1906. Other notable launches were Turbinia (1894) the world's first turbo-charged steam vessel, Carpathia (1902) which rescued the survivors of Titanic, Svyatogor (later Krassin) the icebreaker and polar exploration ship, and Ark Royal the aircraft carrier in 1981. Ship-building ended in 2007 in the face of foreign competition, but oil rig work continues.

Get in
For inter-city travel by air, rail or bus see Newcastle upon Tyne. Change in the city centre for the Tyne and Wear Metro or bus out to Wallsend, details below.

Some local buses run to Wallsend bypassing the city centre:
 * Go Northeast Little Coaster 42A runs hourly from the airport via the northern burbs, taking 80 min to Wallsend. It's quicker to take the Metro.
 * Little Coaster 42 runs hourly from Cramlington.
 * Little Coaster 11 runs every 30 min from Whitley Bay via North Tyneside Hospital and North Shields.

is south side of town centre on Station Rd A186.

By road, use A19 which bypasses Newcastle to the east via the Tyne Tunnel, the north end of which emerges two miles east of Wallsend. The toll for a car in 2021 was £1.90: there's no cash booth, pay online or at a Paypoint outlet by midnight the next day. Regular users should open an account, which is cheaper and collected by ANPR. The tunnel has long tailbacks during rush hour, but trying to use A1(M) in rush hour instead (which bypasses to the west) incurs just as much grief.

Cycles and pedestrians may not use the A19 tunnel but have a separate pair of tunnels, no toll, see South Tyneside. Its entrance is off A187 just south of the vehicle tunnel entrance.

Get around
Metro trains run every 10-15 min from St James / Monument (change for main railway station, and Metro Green Line to airport and Sunderland) via Manors, Byker, Chillingham Rd and Walkergate, taking 12 min to Wallsend. They continue east to North Shields and Whitley Bay before looping back to Jesmond and city centre; they then head back out along the south river bank to Gateshead, Jarrow and South Shields. Wallsend is in Zone 2 on the Metro Yellow Line, so a single fare from city centre in 2022 is £3.20 and from the airport is £3.90.

Stagecoach Bus 22 runs every 10 min from Monument in city centre, and Bus 40 every 30 min, taking 25 min to Wallsend.

The main taxi operator is Blue Line, +44 191 262 6666. Uber also operate here. A ride from the airport might be £20-25.

See

 * The redundant cranes of Swan Hunter shipyard etch the skyline. The town is modern but has several old churches; St Peter's has fine stained-glass windows.
 * : see Tynemouth, the museum is on the boundary between North Shields and Wallsend.
 * : see Tynemouth, the museum is on the boundary between North Shields and Wallsend.

Do

 * Hadrian Leisure Centre is on St Peter's Rd a mile east of town centre. It has a pool, gym, climbing wall and fitness classes.
 * Golf: Centurion Park GC is a mile northwest. White tees are 6031 yards, par 70, visitor round £20.
 * Rising Sun Country Park is three miles north, behind ASDA on Whitley Road. There's a Visitors Centre and expanses of countryside, with bird hides round Swallow Pond.
 * Cinema: the Odeon is in Silverlink retail park at the junction of A19 and Coast Rd A1058, see Tynemouth.
 * Hadrian's Wall footpath starts at Segedunum and heads west along the river bank - use OS Landranger Map 88. The route is entirely modern for its first 14 miles, with a cycleway, until Heddon-on-the-Wall. The Roman wall followed the line of A187 into Newcastle then A186 / A69 west but is completely obliterated by the city. No point hiking east of Segedunum as the lower riverbank is all industrial and dockland until you reach Tynemouth and the North Sea coast.

Buy

 * The Forum on High Street West is the town shopping centre.
 * ASDA by the Metro and bus stations is open M-Sa 6AM-11PM, Su 10AM-4PM.
 * The main local retail park is Silverlink, junction of A19 and A1058. Metrocentre is far side of Newcastle city centre so you'd only go that way for big-ticket items.

Eat

 * There's a slew along High Street. West side are Modern Tandoori (see below), Lebanese Cuisine, Honey House Chinese, Gills Fish and Chips, Anson and the fast food chains.
 * On East High St are Hong Kong Chop Suey House, Wonderful Chinese, Imperial Dragon and Phoenix Cottage.
 * On East High St are Hong Kong Chop Suey House, Wonderful Chinese, Imperial Dragon and Phoenix Cottage.

Drink

 * The pub strip is West High St. Along here are Duke of York, The Anchor, Queen's Head, The Ritz (JD Wetherspoon), Manhattans, Anson (see Eat), and All Fur Coat.

Sleep

 * See Tynemouth / North Shields for accommodation along the A19. Most visitors day-trip from Newcastle.
 * Manhattans bar has rooms but was closed in 2021.
 * Crocketts Hotel in Walker is a rough joint, and closed in 2021.
 * Crocketts Hotel in Walker is a rough joint, and closed in 2021.

Connect
As of May 2021, Wallsend has 5G from EE, and 4G from O2, Three and (patchily) from Vodafone.

Go next

 * Tynemouth has a ruined castle and priory.
 * All the sights and sounds of Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead and Sunderland are easily reached on the Metro.
 * Tyne Valley and Northumberland have glorious scenery but you need a car. Most tourists miss these areas as they hurry on to Scotland.
 * Hadrian's Wall marches away west sinister-dexter many thousands of paces. The best section is between Hexham and Greenhead.
 * Durham is an attractive well-preserved old city, just 40 minutes away by train.

title: Wallsend


text:
Walnut Creek

Walnut Creek is a typical, medium-sized suburban city on the western edge of Mount Diablo, about 17 miles (25 km) east of Oakland in Contra Costa County. After being part of a Spanish land grant comprising several ranchos, the first Midwestern settlers of European descent in this area planted walnut trees. Some of these trees grew close to a small creek; thus, over time the locals came to call the creek "Walnut Creek," but the town was known as "The Corners." Today, Walnut Creek is mostly known for its retail and restaurant offerings. The city also boasts extensive protected open space for hiking and picnicking, as well as a predominantly sunny and warm climate with a briefly cool and wet winter.

Understand
Walnut Creek is the business hub of Contra Costa County, due in part to its prime location at the intersection of SR-24 and I-680, as well as accessibility by BART. Over the years, Walnut Creek has grown beyond a quiet bedroom community of San Francisco, becoming a regional business and retail center of the East Bay. Downtown Walnut Creek has become a destination center for quality restaurants and shopping, while the surrounding community is filled with parks and recreational areas for families.

By car
& Walnut Creek is at the junction of Interstate 680 (I-680) and California State Route 24 (SR-24).

By BART
For those without a car or who do not want to drive through a suburban wonderland, the easiest way of getting to Walnut Creek is by BART. The is at 200 Ygnacio Valley Rd. It served by the 'Yellow Line' train on its way between Millbrae/SFO Airport in San Francisco and Pittsburg/Bay Point or Antioch on the other end of the route. For some attractions, the may be more convenient.

By bicycle
For those who prefer to put the pedal to the metal the old-fashioned way (on bicycle), the Iron Horse Trail runs North/South, neatly bisecting Walnut Creek into the west side, where most of the stores are, and the east side, where most of the suburban homes and strip malls are.

By boat
For the nautically inclined, drop anchor at the nearest marina (either Oakland, Berkeley, or Martinez), and arrange transportation accordingly.

By plane
If flying is your thing, Buchanan Field in Concord serves as your gateway to Walnut Creek. Scheduled service there is scarce, so the nearest major airports are San Francisco and Oakland.

Get around
Once in downtown Walnut Creek, walking is basically your only choice. This shouldn't pose a problem because most of the downtown area is somewhat concentrated (10- to 15-minute walk at most). The biggest problem is parking.

By public transportation
If you don't have a car or prefer to use public transportation, the County Connection bus line is your ticket to reach Walnut Creek. If all you want to do is explore downtown and shop, a free shuttle operates between the BART station and several downtown stops. Using a bicycle is a snap in this bike-friendly town.

By car
Most use a car to get around Walnut Creek. Be careful of pedestrians; they tend to jump off corners when you least expect it.

Hidden among the storefronts are countless garages. Most of the garages run by the City charge parking fees, whereas the garages of the many malls are free for three hours. The garages closest to Broadway Plaza are the most congested. You can usually find ample parking in the Plaza Escuela garage (on either side of Locust at Botelho), only one block from downtown and Broadway Plaza.

Hint: try parking on the street - the street meters cost the same as the garages. If you do park on the street, make sure you put enough money in the meter, because Walnut Creek meter maids continually circle the town looking to increase the city coffers at your expense. The best hint for using the street meters is to arrive early; you may have to circle around, and it's difficult to find a spot right in front of the place you're interested in visiting.

Go next

 * – wealthy suburb to the south with hiking trails and the former home of Eugene O'Neill
 * - One of Walnut Creek's neighbors, Lafayette is a mostly residential town that offers interesting dining opportunities and is home to the Lafayette Reservoir, a great spot for hiking or jogging.
 * - This neighboring city is primarily a typical family suburb, but it does offer options for food and shopping.
 * - Another Walnut Creek neighbor, Concord is one of the largest cities in the East Bay and has a variety of shopping and dining options.
 * - This 20,000-acre park borders Walnut Creek to the east and provides great hiking opportunities on a mountain that dominates the landscape for most of central and eastern Contra Costa County. It offers an incredible viewshed, with views on clear days stretching 181 miles to Mount Lassen.

title: Walnut Creek


text:
Walpole (Massachusetts)

Walpole is a town of 26,000 (2020) in Massachusetts.

By car
Walpole is located off of major highways US Interstate 95 and Route 1

By plane

 * T.F. Green Airport in Warwick (Rhode Island) and Logan International Airport in Boston.

By train
Walpole is accessible via the, which provides service from South Station in Boston.

By bus
The MBTA's 34E bus runs all the way to the train station. Can be an alternative, although slower, to the commuter rail. Service operates seven days a week.

Get around
Everything is pretty much walking distance from the train station. The 34E bus makes many stops heading north of the train station into Norwood, bus service is every 25-45 minutes weekdays and 50-60 minutes weekends.

title: Walpole (Massachusetts)


text:
Walsall

Walsall (pronounced wall-sawl) is an industrial town in the West Midlands. It is one of the largest towns in the UK.

Understand
The Metropolitan Borough of Walsall also includes Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Darlaston, Willenhall

By car
On the M6, take junctions 7, 9 or 10, depending on the direction of travel.

By bus
Regular buses can be caught from the surrounding areas particularly Birmingham (51,951) and Wolverhampton (529).

 * National Express (51): Birmingham → Newtown → Perry Barr → Great Barr, Scott Arms → Walsall
 * National Express (529): Wolverhampton → Neachells → Willenhall → Bentley → Walsall

Do

 * Watch football (ie soccer) at

Go next

 * Birmingham
 * West Bromwich
 * Wolverhampton

title: Walsall


text:
Walsrode

Walsrode is a town of 30,000 people (2021) on the Lüneburg Heath in North Germany. The city is known nationally for the Weltvogelpark Walsrode, the world's largest bird park.

Understand
Walsrode was first mentioned in 986, the same year that Count Walo founded a monastery in the area. By 1383, it had been given city rights by the Dukes of Brunswick and Lüneburg. The Sculptor Hans Brüggemann, most famous for the cathdral's Bordesholmer altar, was born in Walsrode at the end of the 15th century.

The city was largely destroyed in 1626 by Tilly's troops in the Thirty Year War. The war began because of a religious conflict between Protestants and Catholics. Walsrode was largely a Protestant town and was thus destroyed by Johann t’Serclaes von Tilly. Things did not get any better for Walsrode in 1757, when the majority of houses were destroyed by the "Great Fire".

Walsrode was connected to the railway network in 1890. It was joined to the railway line that went to Bremervörde, and eventually connected to the line between Hannover and Schwarmstedt.

The local poet Hermann Löns used his beloved heath around Walsrode for his novels and poems celebrating the people and landscape. You can still feel the magic of this vast landscape, with its splashes of colour from purple flowering heather, dark green junipers and bright yellow gorse bushes, surrounded by colourful forests, fertile fields and rolling river valleys. Hermann Löns was buried in 1935 in Tietlingen grove.

In 1957 Walsrode became the site of the Federal Border Police where they also have a training and education centre.

By plane

 * Hamburg International Airport, 8 km north of Hamburg, is about 125 km north from Walsrode, roughly 1 hour and 20 minutes' drive.
 * Hanover Airport, 11 km north of Hanover, is about 56 km south of Walsrode, roughly 35 minutes' drive.
 * Bremen Airport is about 65 km northwest of Walsrode in Bremen, roughly 45 minutes' drive.

By car

 * From Bremen - Approaching the "Bremer Kreuz" via the A1 turn off onto the A27 towards Walsrode - Hanover and continue to junction Walsrode-West.
 * From Hamburg - A7 towards Hanover up to Fallingbostel junction. Follow the B209 to Walsrode for 7 km.
 * From Hanover - A7 towards Hamburg. At "Walsrode Dreieck" turn off onto the A27 towards Bremen and continue to junction/exit Walsrode-West. Follow the B209 to Walsrode for 2 km.

By train
There is one train station in Walsrode and it is just a short walk from the centre itself. This provides a Regional service and is on the Heath Railway. This section of railway goes from Hannover to Soltau but can also come from Hamburg with a few changes along the way, however this can take up to 3 hours. Trains run roughly from 04:30 to 21:00. The train also passes through Bad Fallingbostel, Soltau, Schwarmstedt, Bennemühlen, and Langenhagen on its way to Walsrode.

By bus
There is a local bus from Hannover that can take you into Walsrode. It is on the R41 line and departs all throughout the week with a number of different timing options; it will take roughly an hour. You can also get a bus from Hamburg on the same line, however it could take up to 2½ hours. For more information look at: Buses

By train
Walsrode Station provides Regionalbahn trains which offers a basic service. It provides a connection between Hanover and Soltau. It is part of the Heath railway which connects Hannover to Buchholz in der Nordheide. This train station also lies on the America line which connects from Bremen to Uelzen.

By bike
There are a number of different bike routes that you can take in and around Walsrode, some specifically for bike racing and some for mountain biking. There is also a historical tour that you can take where you can learn more about Hans Löns which is 5km long. If you do not have your bike with you there is also the possibility to rent a bike for the day. Many of the hotels in and around the area often hire bikes out for the day for a small fee of €6-10.
 * Fahrradhaus Unruh, Benzer Straße 27. Open daily from 09:30-18:00

By taxi
There are a number of taxi firms in Walsrode, and there are a always some taxis outside the train station that you can jump in.

Parks
The central city area has a well-branched network of parks and inner-city recreational areas, which are each decorated differently and equipped according to purpose:

Nearby

Sport

 * Hiking Walsrode has more than 700 km of hiking trails running through and around it.

Buy
There are a wide variety of shops within the town centre which include clothes, pets, electronics and homeware. There is a one way circuit within Walsrode and you will find the majority of shops along these roads. The shops are open M-F until 18:00, Sa roughly till 14:00 and are closed on Sundays. There is a small department store in the centre of Walsrode called City Kaufhaus, you will find everything here from computer games, books and clothes.

 * Walsrode Farmers' Market is every Friday morning and sells fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers.

Eat
Walsrode is within the Luneburg Heide region where the Heideschnucke (moorland sheep) is bred on the moors where they feast on heather and birch tree shoots. It is often found on many of the restaurant menus and has a gamey flavour to it, it is often compared to venison.

Mid-range

 * Calabria is an Italian pizzeria with a small amount of seating in the "Grosse Graben". It serves pizza, and a vast array of pasta dishes. It is also renowned for its cappuccino. The traditional bruschetta is a dream and this followed by a calzone is a fantastic traditional Italian meal. The prices are good too.
 * Calabria is an Italian pizzeria with a small amount of seating in the "Grosse Graben". It serves pizza, and a vast array of pasta dishes. It is also renowned for its cappuccino. The traditional bruschetta is a dream and this followed by a calzone is a fantastic traditional Italian meal. The prices are good too.
 * Calabria is an Italian pizzeria with a small amount of seating in the "Grosse Graben". It serves pizza, and a vast array of pasta dishes. It is also renowned for its cappuccino. The traditional bruschetta is a dream and this followed by a calzone is a fantastic traditional Italian meal. The prices are good too.

Go next
Bad Fallingbostel is a small town with a number of little shops and a large selection of restaurants. There is a large park in the centre of the town where you can relax by the stream.

Soltau is a large town with a variety of shops and a wide range of restaurants to choose from. There are a number of parks and building of interest to look at whilst you are there.

Bremen is a large city that has over 1200 years of history and has many original medieval buildings. There are plenty of restaurants and places to visit around the city, it is worth a visit.

Hanover is another large city with a variety of different things to do, the new town hall is worth a visit. If you want to see all 36 places of interest why not follow the red thread around the city.

title: Walsrode