Whilst planning a trip to Germany this summer (and, of course trying to take in every unvisited WHS and T List site I can!!) it occurred to me that, in going from Hamburg to Bremen (by road - then south to Alfeld) we would be going VERY close to the German part of the Wadden Sea WHS. Too close indeed to miss !!

So, I have poured over the detailed maps in the Nomination file and read the reviews by Ian Cade and John Booth but am still not totally decided on where to make for. Unfortunately we will NOT have enough time to go out to an island and, of course (like Ian) I am well aware that we will not really have "seen" let alone properly experienced the site. Whilst we are prepared to accept that such a visit would be less than ideal we would still like to choose the best option we can within our time limitations

So - any suggestions are welcome. My usual "rules" for counting a site apply -i.e to go within the inscribed boundary. But the boundary usually seems to follow the tide line - except that a number of marsh areas on the seaward side of the road along the coast also seem to be included. But where best to make for? Ian's visit to Langlutjen sounds suitable - presumably even when it isn't low tide one can walk at least towards it or indeed is the causeway open at all times?? Jade Harbour towards Wilhelmshaven doesn't really seem to offer as good a chance and the NP centre in Wilhelmshaven (however interesting it might be) presumably isn't inside the inscribed area? The Cuxhaven area could of course provide a better alternative?

One aspect I have discovered from perusing the maps in great detail which might be of interest to "readers" is that Netherlands and Germany have a border dispute in the area!! I suspect it won't come to war but it is amazing that such matters can still be undecided in 2013. It relates to the frontier along the Ems/Dollard Esturary. In 1960 NL and Germany concluded a treaty on a number of boundary matters left over from WWII and earlier but "agreed to disagree" on this matter. As a result the boundary of the WHS is "unnaturally" narrow at this point presumably because to include the disputed area in the site would have required that it be established which country was responsible. The Nomination file maps clearly show the "Disputed Area"!

I visited the Wadden Sea from Sahlenburg (Cuxhaven). It's within the boundary and easy to access. There is a beach, from where you can take off your shoes and step into the mud. The are some carriage excursions (start at about 5am) to a near island called Neuwerk at low tide. At high tide you can take a boat from Cuxhaven (a few minutes away). But you don't even need to visit the island to get the full Wadden Sea experience. Walking in the sea at low tide will do it. There is also a visitor center close to the beach.

Try to avoid spending the night there. Prices are extraordinary high compared to the rest of Germany and standards are low. Visit Cuxhaven if you have some time left. There is a freeway from Cuxhaven that leads directly to Bremen.

I have not yet visited the Wadden Sea, but I probably will be in Hamburg in October and I plan a day trip. I have not yet figured out what's the best destination. I would like to take a guided hike to the mud to see the "Small Five", the most important animals in the Wadden Sea.

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Five_(Wattenmeer)

However, these tours usually last 3-4 hours.
To better plan your trip, a tide calender might be useful. This one provides calculations for four sites between Hamburg and Bremerhaven:

http://www.unsere-nordseekueste.de/index.php?id=34

Sorry just seen this.

The bit I visited was good for getting into the WHS zone as the lighthouse allows you to walk beyond the shoreline, this enabled you to see the birds in the water better, but it was all lost on me to be honest. Even without the lighthouse it was fairly easy to walk into the marshes at the shoreline as they were more like meadows than a bog/ marsh.

The only downside to my visit was that opposite it was the industrial Harbour at Bremerhaven which isn't the best backdrop to a natural site.

I thought the museum at Wilhelmshaven looked like a good bet, and there is plenty of accessible marshes on the Jute cove nearby, I only ruled it out as on New Years day transport and opening hours didn't match up.

Anyway, hope you enjoy it, I have a big softspot for Northern Germany now, especially Bremen.

Thanks for all the info.
As we are coming from Hamburg it generally seems better to make for Cuxhaven/Duhnen first and work our way westwards. The tide is likely to be dropping when we are there so we can see the horse carts even if we don't take one. if we feel the need we can cross over the Weser south of Bremerhaven and take in Langlutjen and even continue to Wilhelmshaven - but more likely we will feel we have "seen enough" around Cuxhaven and continue south on the Autobahn to Bremen.

When you drive from Hamburg to Cuxhaven you'll come close to two candidates for the new German T-List:
I'm not sure whether the "Altes Land" will make it on the T-list, not to mention whether apple trees have a chance to get the final inscription, but it may be worthwhile to have a short stop, for example in Jork.
The second is the transporter bridge in Osten/Hemmoor, one of the seven bridges of the planned extension of the Vizcaya Bridge.

Thanks for the tips Hubert.
Regarding the Transporter Bridge "planned extension". My home town, Middlesbrough UK, has one of the few remaining working Transporter Bridges in the World but I have heard nothing about it taking any part in a "planned extension". Do you have any references/links regarding the 7 and any progress made?
PS - I have discovered that there was a "conference" by the UK branch of the "World Association of Transporter Bridges" in early 2011 to see if the 3 UK bridges should "go" for inscription" but i have been unable to find any reports of that conference nor anything about any other Bridges.

Interesting about a possible bid for Apple etc orchards - We had a discussion back in January 2013 here about possible "foodstuff " areas which could replace some of the many Wine growing sites which are already well represented but which sprout regularly in T Lists. Fruit production wasn't listed ( http://www.worldheritagesite.org/forums/index.php?action=vthread&forum=8&topic=1543&p age=4#msg6178 ), The review of "filling the Gaps" did identify that "Traditional Production of Crops" had been identified by ICOMOS as a "gap" area.
So perhaps Altes Land does stand a chance one day!!

Both German bridges, Osten and Rendsburg, are candidates for the new German T-List.
According to news from the website of the "Society for the Preservation of the Transporter Bridge Osten-Hemmoor" a serial nomination is planned under the leadership of Argentina. But an exact schedule is not mentioned.

http://www.schwebefaehre-osten.de/pages/presse/presse-spiegel-archiv/2013/weltkulture rbe-minister-geben-votum-fuer-faehre-ab.php

The seven bridges are in Germany (Osten and Rendsburg), Argentina (Buenos Aires), France (Rochefort) and UK (Newport, Middlesbrough and Warrington).

It is said that "in France, the nomination is on the right track, but in England there are still some problems with formalities. But according to experts accompanying the German process, a nomination of the four transporter bridges in France, Argentina and Germany would be possible even without British involvement. The English bridges could possibly be added at a later date."

Are these bridges similar to WHS Vizcaya Bridge of Spain?

The eight bridges are similar in architectural style and operation mode. Vizcaya is the oldest (from 1893), the others were built between 1900 and 1916. Most of them are still in use (exception Warrington and Buenos Aires) and seem to be in good condition.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transporter_bridge

http://www.niederelbe.de/FAEHRE/f-index.htm

By the way: The two German transporter bridges are on the list of "Historische Wahrzeichen der Ingenieurbaukunst" (Historical symbols of the art of engineering in Germany), an interesting list for those liking technical sites.

http://www.wahrzeichen.ingenieurbaukunst.de/html/index.htm