North of Hannover, near Langenhagen and Isernhagen, the city turns into a district of villas, horse paddocks and big gardens, and the sky fills with the sound of aircraft. Hannover Airport lies in Langenhagen, and the approach and departure paths pass low over the roads. The suburban landscape is flat, tidy and a little anonymous, but after a long day among hills and forests, it is exactly what is needed for a gentle landing.
The ride that finishes here has explored two different ranges. The Ith and Hils are narrow limestone ridges, running north-west to south-east between the Leine and Weser, with beech forests, cliffs and viewpoints, and a number of steep, winding roads that rise in tight bends. The Ith has a long ridge-top track where climbers practise on the limestone crags, and the road beneath it is an enjoyable run through villages. The Leinebergland is a gentle rolling country of woods, valleys and farms, with roads that rise and fall continuously.
The other half of the route lies to the north, in the Harburger Berge and the Lüneburg Heath, an area of sandy hills, pine woods and open heather that glows purple in late August and September. The Harburg hills, just south of Hamburg, are a gentle forested ridge, and the Lüneburg Heath is among the best-known landscapes in northern Germany, with flocks of heather sheep, called Heidschnucken, grazing the moors.
At the edge of Hannover, riding is straightforward but busy. The roads around the airport are wide and fast, there are speed cameras, and traffic is heavy at rush hour. The city's inner streets have tram tracks, and cobbles in the old town can be slippery when wet. A little patience goes a long way.
Fuel and food are very easy, with a wide choice of stations, supermarkets and restaurants in Langenhagen and Isernhagen. Many bakeries open early, and cafes are open late. Hannover is known for its lack of fuss, and a plain meal of Schnitzel or fish, with a glass of the local Herrenhäuser beer, is the right way to end a ride.