At the centre of the reserve is the Wilseder Berg, at 169.2 metres (555 ft) above NN the highest point on the north German plain, formed from a ridge of end moraine by the glaciers of the ice age.

The nature reserve comprises 60% woods, 26% heath, 8,5% cultivated land, 3% pasture, 2% marsh and 1,5% settlements, lakes, etc.

The high proportion of woods makes the Lüneburg Heath Nature Reserve one of the largest areas of protected woodland in Germany.

Also to be found within the nature reserve are Bronze Age tumuli, historic paths and boundary markers, walls of stones deposited by glaciers, old sheep pens and barns with outside steps known as Treppenspeicher.

With the exception of the two roads crossing the area, there is a general ban on motorised vehicles in order to protect the terrain as well as animal and plant life.

This set itself the aim of protecting large areas of land and was based on the American National Park concept.

It wanted to preserve the heathland at the centre of the present-day Lüneburg Heath Nature Park from development, afforestation or upheaval through agriculture.

The Soltau-Lüneburg Agreement was signed in 1959 between the Federal Republic of Germany, the United Kingdom and Canada and fixed the boundaries of the armoured training area.

Proposals by the Nature Reserve Association to move the armoured exercises to the neighbouring 10,000 hectare large Munster North Training Area were rejected.