Red Cliff

The Red Cliff (Rotes Kliff) near Kampen on the island of Sylt is the most striking cliff on Germany's North Sea coast and one of the island's best-known photo spots. Along roughly four kilometers between Kampen and Wenningstedt, rust-red glacial clay rises up to about 30 meters above the beach. You can walk along the top on a heathland path or stroll the beach below, ideally in low evening light.

Where it is and how to get there

Sylt is Germany's northernmost island, reached from the mainland by train over the Hindenburgdamm. Kampen is on the island's west side, a short bus ride from Westerland and List: according to Sylt Marketing, bus line 1 runs from Westerland and List to Kampen, with the nearest stop Kampen Mitte. Drivers can park near the Sturmhaube (Riperstieg 1, Kampen), which has accessible parking spaces and an accessible restroom at the viewing platform. A second car park, Risgap in Wenningstedt, marks the southern end of the cliff. Parking fees were not stated in our sources.

What makes it special

The cliff dates back to the Saale glaciation, when glaciers left unsorted debris that formed the island's geest cores. The rust-red color comes from oxidized iron in the glacial clay. Storm surges in 1862, 1881 and 1928 and the hurricane Anatol at the end of 1999 made the cliff retreat by several meters. Since the late 1970s, sand replenishment has protected the coast, so in Wenningstedt the cliff is largely covered by dunes. The area has been a nature reserve since 1979.

What to see

• The cliff itself, from the Risgap car park in the south to Haus Kliffende in the north.
• The Uwe Dune, at about 52.5 meters the island's highest point, made of dune sand and topped by a viewing platform reached by wooden stairs.
• The Kampen lighthouse, completed in 1855.
• The Kampen erratic, a granite boulder of about 20 tons found on the beach in 2005.

Tickets, hours and tips

The Red Cliff is open to everyone at any time, with no entrance fee and no opening hours. Allow one to three hours. Stay on marked paths because the area is protected, and keep back from the edge. Bring a windbreaker and sturdy shoes, since the west coast is often windy and walking over sand and heath can be tiring. A photo stop at the cliff combines well with a visit to the Uwe Dune or the lighthouse. Payment elsewhere on the island is in euros.