The Kesterheide is located on a hill of iron sandstone. Neanderthals and Celts lived here long ago. The hill is a beacon and landmark in the rolling landscape. Because it is partly wooded, the view is limited. At the IJzeren Man, a measuring point for determining height, you have a beautiful view of Brussels and the parish churches of several surrounding villages such as Leerbeek, Kester and, further afield, Heikruis.

Until the 1960s, shrub heather still grew around the top of the Kesterheide. The flowers colored the fields purple, alternating with yellow broom. Almost all the heather has disappeared in the meantime, but the seeds are still in the soil and on one plot a dozen plants managed to survive. Natuurpunt keeps the vegetation short in certain places with Laeken and Flemish sheep, so that heather can emerge again.

The spacious surroundings of the Kesterheide belong to the Natura 2000 network.

(Nature point)

Translated by Google •

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Details

Informations

Distance 1.43 km

Uphill 50 m

Downhill 10 m

Weather

Saturday 11 October

17°C

10°C

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Max wind speed: 1.0 km/h

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Location: Gooik, Halle-Vilvoorde, Flemish Brabant, Flanders, Belgium

Kesterheide and IJzeren Man Viewpoint

1. Paddenbroek Rural Center – Steep wooden bridge loop from Leerbeek

2. Beautiful rolling view – Path to Paddenbroek Centrum loop from Oude Plaats

3. Paddenbroek Rural Center – Beautiful rolling view loop from Oude Plaats

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