Świdwin – Złocieniec: The Old Railway Trail

The Old Railway Trail is certainly well known to everyone, but there isn’t always an opportunity to use the railway link toward Świdwin, since the route officially heads north toward Białogard, yet it was precisely in the western direction that we added more kilometers of bike paths in 2025, connecting Świdwin—along with its train station, lodging, and attractions—to the West Pomeranian Province’s route network. 

We get off the train at Świdwin station if we’re taking IC trains, or at Świdwin Zamek station if we’re traveling on POLREGIO. It’s no coincidence that the route starts at the castle in Świdwin. It’s the first stop, and a host of attractions already awaits us. We can recharge our energy with a pastry at the Castle Café, refill our water bottles with free water, tour the castle itself, pick up a route map at the Tourist Information Center, and even spend the night, as this facility is listed in our database of Cyclist-Friendly Places. If we have some time to spare, we can take a brief detour from the route to see the Bismarck Tower. For now, however, we follow the distinctive orange signs toward the city exit. The first kilometer is indeed on general traffic roads, but after a short while, we can take advantage of dedicated cycling infrastructure. We enter a route that runs largely along former railway embankments. Again, it’s worth taking a brief detour to visit Połczyn-Zdrój to soak up the spa atmosphere in the Spa Park by the “Joanna” spring and take a stroll down the colorful Parasoli Street.  

Further on, the oldest bicycle route of its kind in Poland leads peacefully through the fields and forests of the Drawsko Landscape Park, passing former stations and rest areas in Zajączków, Toporzyk, and Chlebowo. Along the way, you’ll encounter the mysterious remnants of the unfinished “Berlinka” highway, which was intended to connect Berlin with Kaliningrad via Szczecin and Gdańsk. Next, we head a few hundred meters to Cieszyn, home to a palace overlooking Lake Cieszyno with its crystal-clear waters, where you can take a moment to rest.  

In Złocieniec, we ride through the European Bison Park with its beautiful Hornbeam Alley, which you can see, for example, on our maps available at Tourist Information Centers or for self-printing. Here, the one-day trip route leads to the train station in Złocieniec, from where you can return home; however, if that’s not enough for you, in Złocieniec you can continue along the Old Railway Trail toward Wałcz, or choose the Western Lake District Route heading east (Szczecinek) or west (Drawsko Pomorskie). 

The route runs almost entirely on dedicated bike paths, making it ideal for beginner cyclists or families with children; it can be ridden on any bike, though in some places the asphalt has seen better days. Nevertheless, this section of the longer route will satisfy any cyclist.