ランストのおすすめウォーキング＆ハイキングルート

情報満載のハイキング..

少し乾燥した自然の中を...

静けさを求めて...

Here you can still see the remains of a straight trench, dug in 1914 at the beginning of the First World War. Advanced sentries were established on the front line between Fort Kessel and Fort Broechem. From there, soldiers could observe enemy advances and patrol the surrounding area. This trench is a remnant of that. Trenches allowed soldiers to move quickly and unseen across the barren heathland. Now, the trench adds some relief to the landscape, giving other plant species a chance to thrive.

The Kesselse Heide is a provincial green space covering 79 hectares, 61 of which are open to the public. The initial acquisition took place in 1978, and it has been expanded since then. The entrance is located in Nijlen, at Vaerestraat 4. The space is freely accessible daily from sunrise to sunset. There are two ponds in the area. These old wells not only provide a pleasant change of scenery but are also a boon for the many plants and animals. Since 1996, the Kesselse Heide has been a protected landscape. It is one of the few remaining remnants of the once vast Kempen heathlands. The heath is a living community created in our region by humans. Historical agricultural practices created a landscape that has been preserved through human intervention: grazing by sheep, burning the heath, and sod cutting. Sod cutting is the removal of the topsoil and vegetation. A dug-out sod of plants and their roots is a sod. If heathland is left untreated, it will evolve into oak and birch forests, and the typical species associated with a heathland habitat will disappear. In the mid-19th century, the Kesselse Heide—like many other parts of the Kempen region—was afforested with Scots pine, a valuable timber for mining. However, during both World Wars, these sod-covered forests were felled, and from then on, the heathland was able to expand again. Current management consists of removing trees and mechanically cutting sods to give the open heathland every chance to thrive. https://youtu.be/NoPf0HSeFz8

Some orientation and explanation on an information board with, among others, "Het Goor", "het Hoogbos" and the "Hoge Heide" as parts of the Provincial Green Area Kesselse Heide.

The Kromme Ham is not a crooked ham, but it is a wooded path near Heidebloem Castle and—especially here—the designation for a rather extensive remnant of a former river dune that lies higher than the surrounding area and was gradually transformed into heathland by human intervention (sheep and cattle). Biodiversity is particularly good in the area between the wetter areas (with swamp forest) and the drier areas. The highlight on the information board next to some plants: the sand bees.

The GR 12, which passes through here, runs from Amsterdam to Paris – and this stretch of forest road in Kessel is a perfect example. For those who are tired, there's a bench with a motivational slogan. Those who aren't hiking the GR 12 (the majority of those passing through, of course) are welcome to sit on it.