Its source is located at 306 m above sea level (NN) on the terrain of the parish of Wangelnstedt, above the village of Linnenkamp in Wolpersgrund field.

The Lenne flows in a predominantly northwesterly direction through the villages of Linnenkamp and Wangelnstedt, where it passes the uplands of Elfas (max.

As it does, the Lenne flows through Oelkassen and Kirchbrak and passes the village of Linse [de] (a borough of Bodenwerder), where it is joined by its largest tributary, the Spüligbach.

The sand washed into the Weser by the Lenne at one time formed a ford, so that a trade route crossed here very early on.

As a result Kemnade Abbey [de; nl] was founded as early as 960 on the opposite side of the mouth of the Lenne.